LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Education is warning school owners to tame their appetite for summer lessons in just a few days in the 2022/2023 academic calendar is closed for both primary and secondary schools.
The warning comes as some schools are asking learners to go back to school for summer lessons barely days after schools closed on July 21, 2023.
The Ministry is therefore reminding school owners and administrators in both public and private schools that this tendency is unacceptable.
Ministry of Education’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mphatso Nkuonera in a brief statement observes that the malpractice gives learners no room to rest after weeks of being in class.
He added that learners need to rest to refresh themselves in order to start with new energy the following term.
Nkuonera said, “It is also disadvantageous to learners from vulnerable families whose parents or guardians cannot afford to pay for the summer lessons. This promotes disparities and inequalities among learners.
“The vice gives room for some teachers to deliberately fail to complete the planned work within the school calendar with the aim of running summer lessons”
“The Ministry will, therefore, not condone such malpractice, and schools going against the policy, risk disciplinary actions.
The Ministry said it would like to remind everyone that the 2023/2024 academic calendar will commence on 11th September 11, 2023, and all schools must observe and operate within it,” added Nkuonera.