The Ministry of Education has allowed primary and secondary schools to resume co-curricular activities which had been suspended due to coronavirus.
Through a circular dated 15th November 2021 Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Julius Juan, has ordered school heads to engage learners in internal co-curricular activities and inter school contests.
“Ministry of Education advises principals to engage learners in internal co-curricular activities guided inter-school contest over the weekend and after classes,” Jwan directed.
However Jwan directed the principals to ensure minimal or no physical contact during the activities.
This latest directive comes amid high cases of students’ unrest and arson in more than 30 schools across the country weeks after the ministry banned all extra-curricular activities in learning institutions.
While reopening schools after the Covid-19 break, President Uhuru Kenyatta banned all extra-curricular activities in schools such as sports, drama, music and prize-giving days.
Also among the school activities banned were exchange visits between schools.
“That all extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, music and prize-giving days, involving more than one school remain prohibited for the next 90 days; and all exchange visits between schools shall remain prohibited for the same period,” Uhuru said in an Executive Order.
As per the Executive Order, all learners and teachers were required to wear appropriate facemasks when on the school premises or within school transport.
“That all schools shall ensure that they have adequate handwashing stations corresponding to their student population, in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education; schools experiencing water problems must ensure that there is adequate availability of hand sanitisers for both the students and the teachers,” the Executive Order read in part.
Below is the official circular by PS Julius Jwan addressed to Regional, County and Sub county Directors;
RE: GRADUAL AND SAFE RESUMPTION OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS
In February, 2021 the Ministry of Education with the support of Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sports Culture and Heritage developed the Covid-19 safety and health protocols/ guidelines that will enable the gradual and safe resumption of co-curricular activities in education institution which were suspended in 2020.
The guidelines were later presented to National Co-curricular Activities Steering Committee and the Regional Co-curricular Activities Management Committees.
These protocols have been cascaded to all levels and disseminated to all schools.
On 18th October, 2021 the Ministry of Health recommended that interschool sporting activities may gradually resume with strict adherence to the current guidelines prepare by MOE.
The initial focus should be on non-contact/ low activities as guided in the protocols.
In view of the above development, the Ministry of Education advises the Principals to engage learners in internal co-curricular activities and guided inter-school contest over the weekend and after classes.
Meanwhile the Ministry is working on modalities for full resumption of activities in due course.
Julius Jwan, PHD, MBS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
