The Education Ministry confirms approval of Saturday classes but there are conditions to be fulfilled, otherwise, it should not be conducted at all.
The Minister for Education in an earlier media release approved the conduct of Saturday classes subject to conditions.
First, day-schools must obtain parental consent.
This is important because parents should be aware of their children’s whereabouts on a non-teaching day and that they will be safe under teachers’ supervision.
Second, these classes are to be supervised by either the Principal or either of the two assistants.
The presence of the top three administrators in the school during these extra classes carried a lot of weight- it motivates students and at the same time, guarantees the proper conduct of classes by teachers.
Third, these classes must be well-planned and executed to ensure students successfully learn concepts and apply them to their own contexts.
Ill-prepared teachers waste their time and students’ time for they will obviously be caught on the day.
When students learn concepts well, they should be able to share their knowledge with their mates and this consolidates what they learnt in class.
Fourth, these classes must be conducted for revision purposes, not to catch up on one’s syllabus.
When teachers do not follow their syllabus, the end result will be their seeking extra classes to catch up.
It is important that academic work be placed at the fore of every school program.
Finally, students and teachers should be given the freedom to take part in the school’s extra classes program.
That means, no one should be forced to attend such classes.
The Ministry hopes that proper dialogue is carried out by teachers, students, parents and school managements in order to work out a practicable revision program for students, as they prepare for their final examinations.