Education CS George Magoha has suspended plans to reopen schools on September 1, 2020, as the numbers of Coronavirus cases spiked.
He announced that all basic learning institutions would be reopened in January 2021.
“… the school calendar will be considered lost due to covid-19,” CS George Magoha stated
“Based on the rising trend, we agreed to shelve classes. The country will be severely affected as all other children will lose the year. It shall be impossible to achieve social distancing.
In consultation with the Ministry of Health, stakeholders agreed that reducing physical numbers in classes will affect learning, schools should only resume if cases reduce consistently for 14 days and social and physical distancing is the most critical factor in ensuring the safety of learners, handwashing and using masks and monitoring temperature will be crucial too,” Magoha stated.
A parents representative at the meeting added that parents had wished to have the education calendar in 2020 postponed. He assured parents that they would sit down with the Ministry to discuss how the school fees issue would be addressed.
“We were part and parcel of the entire process of the committee set up to come with regulations and it is imperative to prepare adequately to open. We agree and concur with all Magoha has stated. The burden to manage our health system will be enormous. It would be wrong to open soon,” Misori stated.
“We urge and call all parents to ensure that our children are safe until when they resume learning. Magoha’s decisions are in the best interest of the country and stakeholders, parents, and students,” Sossion added.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akello Misori, and his KNUT counterpart Wilson Sossion are all in support of CS Magoha’s sentiments.
In summary, all Schools are set to be reopened in January 2021, no KCPE and KCSE exams this year; as stated by the Education CS George Magoha announces
Prof. Magoha added that teacher training colleges and TVET institutions will be allowed to reopen from September 2020 subject to strict adherence to the Ministry of Health COVID-19 protocols.
Universities were also urged to consider phased reopening but only upon achieving physical and social distancing in halls of residence, lecture rooms and dining areas.
Until then, the CS said, they “should continue holding virtual learning and graduations for students who have successfully completed their programmes and met graduation requirements set by their respective Senates.”
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