As we ramp up our preparations for the new school year, I want to update you on the coronavirus situation and our plans for the opening of school. It is evident both that we are experiencing a third wave of the virus here in Zambia and also that this wave seems to be declining as you can see here.
In order for us to open our campus, three conditions must be met:
- We need the authority to do so from the regulatory regime.
- We must have in place the measures necessary to open safely.
- Our board must judge that the objective conditions warrant opening.
As far as legal authority is concerned, schools in Zambia are closed until Monday, 16th August, so it is impossible for our campus to open before this date. Since our school calendar begins on Monday 9th August this would have to be with home-based learning.
To assess our readiness to open, our COVID Task Force met last week, led by our board chair, Thomson Phiri. In general, they are satisfied with the COVID precautions we had in place last year and are happy to proceed with those. We will, however, conduct a review of current guidance from the WHO to see if any changes are needed. We will also have to secure approval of our procedures from the MoH, but I believe this is likely to be forthcoming. I would like to thank those association members who serve on the COVID Task Force.
As far as objective conditions are concerned, the COVID Task Force has agreed to meet weekly to assess the situation. There are a number of numerical indicators to be considered, some of which have various methodological issues to be taken into account. The task force will consider these and other factors and make a recommendation to the board as seems fit. We will communicate regularly with the association on this issue.
An additional factor is the forthcoming elections on Thursday 12th August 2021. As well as that day being a public holiday, there may also be factors connected with the election that affect the timing of reopening our campus. The exercise of the democratic franchise is rightly important to Zambians, but inevitably, the aggregation of large numbers of people does raise concerns about the effect on conditions.
If you have any opinions or insights to share, why not leave a comment below so we can get an idea of the concerns in the association at the moment. Alternatively, you can mail the COVID Task Force at covid@isl.sch.zm. We have changed our domain to isl.sch.zm, but mail sent to islzambia.org will continue to find its target.
Thanks for this, this is a great initiative. However, given that the week of 9th August is already disrupted with the elections on the 12th, wouldn’t it be easier to open on the 16th altogether. Please think about this idea if it is at all possible. Thank you once again for your messages
ReplyDeleteHi Suhayl, thank you for your suggestion which I will raise when the task force next meets on Wednesday. Best, Mark
DeleteI fully agree, with delaying school opening to after we have seen the election through! The covid situation we have proven we can handle internally, but the election is an external matter that we do not have any impact on! I was here the week after the election of 2011, and I was here in 2016, i do not think it is wise to be to hasty to open and force transports to and from school!
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, would you advocate home-based learning for a period?
DeleteThank you for the communication, I would agree that with the likely disruptions caused by the elections, opening school on 16th may be preferable, especially if it was possible to open the campus rather than begin with a week of home based learning.
ReplyDeleteHi - thanks for your comment - it's certainly something we are considering. The CTF will review these comments at our next meeting.
DeleteThanks a lot Mr.Mark for the update on the opening of the school. What's again important is the results of the elections. As it takes 3-4 days for the results to be out. Hopefully, it will be peaceful, as usual.
ReplyDeleteHello and thank you. Zambia does have a proud history of peaceful elections
DeleteGoodmorning,
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your update, thank you very much. Hope everyone has had a restful and safe break.
In my opinion, I feel if the school calendar starts on the 9th of August, hence online HBL should also commence on the same day.
Situations are not predictable at the moment in terms of Covid and it’s 3rd wave. Plus due to elections further factors have been added. Until a final date is not decided for the campus to reopen, HBL should begin. Why should the children be behind by a week or how much ever time it takes for the school to restart its campus.
Thank you and regards,
Gurveen Gambhir
Thank you madam, what you suggest is currently what we are looking at. We will review the situation weekly and update you accordingly.
DeletePerhaps start on the 9th as per normal HBL as we always have some hiccups. So these can be ironed out over the first week, the next week we can start smoothly. Based on that and the relevant authorities giving the go ahead to open as normal
ReplyDeleteThe children are keen on seeing their friends and teachers even if only on the computer. Plus the few days after elections things are a bit uncertain, hopefully all will go smoothly as every other election.
DeleteMRS NAIK
I certainly hope so too.
DeleteThank you very much Mr Fox for the update and we trust you had a good break. We agree with home based learning starting 9 August, we can then break for elections and resume with HBL thereafter until the Covid19 situation is epidemiologically clearer. We appreciate efforts by the school and all stakeholders.
ReplyDeleteHello and thank you for sharing. What you have suggested is basically what we are looking at right now. The CTF meets weekly to review the situation whence we will update you.
DeleteThanks for the update,
ReplyDeletekeeping in view the COVID situation and elections, its better to have HBL for the month of August and then from September we can have a proper school based learning.
This will, infact, also help isolating the families flying back in to Zambia after spending vacations at their home country or abroad. I would prefer HBL to start from 16th August avoiding election week and ensuring max participation of the students and teachers.
Good day ..
Thank you for your comment - the CTF is considering a number of options for how to keep our school strong and our children safe.
DeleteHi Mark..thank you for the update. Considering various factors...schools are physically not allowed to open before the 16th, elections, covid numbers and the thought of having to go through HBL at the very start of a new school year (for children, teachers and parents all getting to know each other) can it be considered that the start date is moved back to the 16th. If school still cant physically open on that date then so be it but at least for sure we would know its one week less of HBL. Maybe we can loose at week on the Christmas holidays or elsewhere to make up the school days. Many other schools are not opening until the 16th. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello - we did consider that approach, but the COVID task force did not see any reason not to begin HBL on the 9th as planned. To be honest, when we open campus will depend on external factors beyond our control.
Delete