Just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) George Magoha to notify the public on plans to resume the 2020 academic year, the CS has announced that Primary and secondary schools will resume next year in January with a phased reopening of colleges and universities.
The CS has also rubbished claims that candidates who were set to sit for their national examinations this year will be allowed to do so and officially declared this year’s school calendar null and void due to the coronavirus.
This means the students will have to repeat a whole class in the next year.
“In consultation with Ministry of Health, we have agreed schools to reopen when daily Covid-19 cases reduce consistently for 14 days. Social and physical distancing is the most critical factor in ensuring the safety of learners,” the CS said.
“Inter-county movement of students will cause severe challenges with high incidents of infections. We are happy to inform Kenyans that the president accepted the recommendations.”
The CS also said universities will only reopen only when they meet the requirements with constant inspections to make sure there is safety.
“Members of the senate and faculty must agree how they are going to do a phased reopening,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday directed Magoha to notify the public on the resumption of the 2020 academic year not later than Tuesday.
There was an initial proposal to reopen in September but after consultations, the CS said this was the only logical decision.
KNUT secretary general Wilson Sossion said that they were consulted in the process and support the move.
“The flattening of the curve is what will guide us. The safety of learners and teachers at the place of work is very critical and important. We urge all parents to ensure the safety of the children until such a time that schools will be reopened,” he said
