Govt orders extension of resumption date of schools to February 12, as cholera cases hit 13,686 cases

Government has announced that schools would remain closed until February 12, 2024 as result of the continued spread of cholera.

As of Wednesday, January, 24, 2024, health authorities reported a total number of 13, 686 cases and a cumulative total deaths of 518 lives with 801 still admitted.

Education Minister, Douglas Syakalima, made the announcement on Thursday in Lusaka and said the schools which were supposed to open on January, 29, 2024 for term one would now open on February, 12, 2024.

The Minister said the decision to further postpone the reopening date of schoole was made at a meeting held by the national disaster management and mitigation council of ministers held Wednesday January, 24, 2024.

Syakalima said the Ministry of Education was guided at the meeting to further postpone the opening date to February, 12, 2024.

“Schools and colleges will open for term one on Monday February 12, 2024 and will close on Friday April, 26, 2024,” he said.

The Minister disclosed that schools and colleges would open for term two on Monday May 6, 2024 and would close on Friday August, 9, 2024.

Read More: Schools to remain closed until January 29, as cholera death, cases escalate

Syakalima added that for term three, schools and colleges would open for term three on Monday September 2, 2024 and will close on Friday December 6, 2024.

“I want to urge the nation to continue using the alternative modes of learning that have been put in place by the Ministry of Education,” he advised.

On January 4, 2024, the Minister of Education announced the postponement of the date of reopening of Schools from January 8 to 29, 2024 due to the cholera outbreak in the country.

Syakalima said in order to recover the lost time, the school calendar for 2024 for all public, private, aided and community schools has been adjusted.

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