This article contains the latest updates on Kenyan Schools Reopening for the year 2020. Many African countries worldwide have been having a hard time deciding on a specific date schools are to reopen after the heat of the the global pandemic.
Kenya, like other countries, was on a lock down for months. This was a means to put the rapid spread of the virus on check. When the country confirmed the first case of the virus on March 13, many parents embraced the government’s directive to shut schools for safety reasons.
While on lock-down, many students got pregnant while at home. Many parents fear that further delay in reopening schools may escalate this trend. On the other hand, some parents are lamenting concerning the exorbitant amount they spend to enroll their wards in private lessons.
Now that the pandemic has subsided and other sectors are gradually opening, many are of the opinion that schools should be reopened too. This issue appears to be more difficult than it seems as there has not been a set date to reopen schools, thus leaving the Kenyan citizens on constant but unrealistic predictions.
Inorder to come to a conclusion on this matter, series of meetings and conferences have been held by the Education stakeholders.
“The President in his last address categorically stated that there will be a larger stakeholders’ conference headed by CSs Matiangi and Kagwe. This is slated to take place sometimes around or before September 25,”
In preparation for the said conference, Education stakeholders embarked on a week-long consultative forum recently, ahead of a ministerial school calendar review meeting scheduled to take place before September 25.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) George Magoha who graced the opening of the forum at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi said the stakeholders will explore the country’s readiness to resume the academic calendar as the COVID-19 curve declines with the country reporting a 5-point positivity rate average.
The CS had earlier stated that schools may reopen in January 2023 but with a report from medical personnel on the rapid decrease on the viral cases, the decision is being reviewed by stakeholders.
While the people await the outcome of the scheduled meeting, there have been speculations that schools will open on October 19 while Standard Eight and Form Four learners will sit their national exams in April 2021 if the government adopts proposals by a committee appointed by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha. As a result of the disruption on term dates, the committee also recommends that the school calendar be revised to allow the year to begin in June instead of the usual January-to-November cycle.
The team of senior education stakeholders proposes to reorganise the academic calendar such that the second term starts in October and ends in November while the third term starts in January and ends in March.
Thus the first term in the 2021 calendar will start in May or early June. Dr Sarah Ruto, the committee chairman has come up with two main proposals on how to manage the crisis caused by the global pandemic in Kenya’s education sector.
First Proposal on Kenyan School Reopening
In the first proposal, the stakeholders suggest a phased reopening of schools that will see Standard Seven, Standard Eight, Form Three and Form Four students back in class on Monday, October 19. Grade Four pupils, who are the first cohort of the Competency Based Curriculum, are also to report back to school in the first phase.
For primary schools, learners in Pre-Primary One and Two and Grades One to Three, and those in Standard Five and Six will be expected to start reporting to schools on November 2. Secondary school students in Form One and Two will also be expected to report back to school on the same date.
The aim of this phased-out approach of school reopening is to enable teachers and non-academic staff to have adequate time to familiarise themselves with health protocols before the other pupils and students report back to school.
Second Proposal on Kenyan Schools Reopening
The second proposal by the committee advises the government to swing open the gates for all scholars on October 19, 2020 and monitor progress and health concerns thereafter. In Other words, the second proposal suggests that the government should allow all pupils and students back to school at once.
The recommendations and Proposals made by stakeholders will be reviewed at the ministerial forum slated to take place by Friday, September 25, bringing together CS Magoha and Mutahi Kagwe of Health.
If the government settles on the October date for primary and secondary schools, universities who took to e-learning while on lockdown will also be expected to recall their students for face-to-face learning.
KENYAN SCHOOLS REOPENING MEASURES
While schools are getting ready to go back to classes, different protective measures have been put in place to be implemented by schools across the country.
Teachers Service Commission has been training heads of schools and tertiary institutions on health protocols for safe reopening. Those protocols include safe-distancing in class. To achieve this, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the Government will deliver desks worth Sh1.9 billion to schools before they reopen. The desks will be supplied under the Economic Stimulus Programme that will benefit 5,254 secondary and 5,136 primary schools.
According to the President,”Primary schools will receive 360,000 desks at a cost of Sh900 million while secondary schools will receive 263,157 lockers and chairs at a total cost of Sh1 billion”.
Professor Magoha is expected to present the proposed dates and guidelines for schools reopening and also outline the procedures for technical and vocational institutions, as well as universities once the September 25th meeting is concluded.
Till the meeting is concluded, there is no fixed date for reopening of schools in Kenya. However, whatever decision is made in the end is all for the good of the country. Health is wealth and it is only a person who is healthy and alive that can go to school.
