CS George Magoha has now put possible reopening of public schools this coming November. The CS said following the Covid-19 trend it is likely public schools will reopen by November for KCPE and KCSE classes to sit for the exams. This follows after his recent comment that reopening of schools date is not cast on stone. However the CS said this will only happen if public schools put the required standards to protect the children from contacting the coronavirus.
In order to prepare schools for the resumption of learning, the ministry also said will on Monday, September 7, roll out training of school heads in basic and higher learning on Covid-19 health guidelines. Already regional County and Sub County education directors have undergone the training that kicked off on Monday, August 31.
Magoha lauded the progress made by some learning institutions saying that a good number of them were on course with the preparations.
“About 50 per cent of the institutions are on a trajectory towards reopening. What has annoyed me is that this is the sixth week, yet we have to keep on saying the same things over and over. Once we are ready we will allow the students to sit their exams,” he said.
However yesterday while speaking at Nyeri Polytechnic the CS said Eldoret, Rift valley and Nyeri polytechnics are some of the institutions which have met most of the required guidelines. He said there are only a few things for the institutions to complete before getting official clearance in a weeks time.
“We now have at least three them which are very clearly ready to be opened. Rift valley then we have Eldoret then this one (Nyeri Polytechnic). There are just a few things we meet then can be opened in a weeks time or so. From the gate upto dining halls, classrooms, boarding houses, toilets, water points you can measure actually how much money has been spent. The money has been well spent,” said Magoha.
The conditions set to be met by schools include ensuring adequate clean running water and sanitisation facilities in the institutions to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus.
In addition, schools are required to purchase liquid soaps, non-contact thermometers, disinfectants, facemasks and first aid kits.
Learners below nine years of age will be required to be accompanied by class teachers upon arrival at school gates and escorted back when leaving.
Co-curricular activities such as games, drama, music, sports, inter institution competitions or any other events that could lead to crowding have been temporarily banned.
Schools will be required to refurbish washrooms and bathrooms to ease congestion that can pose a threat to students.
A Covid-19 response committee not exceeding five members and including one learner and a non-teaching staff member will also be established by schools.
Two weeks ago the ministry of education said kshs Sh15.4 billion had been released to enable public schools prepare for reopening in January.
Of these, Sh13.3 the ministry said will go towards arrangements for social distance, hand washing and purchase of thermo-guns in schools while Sh2.2 billion will pay salaries of teachers employed by the Boards of Management (BoM) and non-teaching staff, such as watchmen.
Can the government be precise and assure the parents that they have put in place proper and safe measures in the various educational institutions before re-opening of schools.As it is,the status quo remains
This government should expand learning spaces the overcrowded schools and domitories are a recipe for disaster. Knee jerk reactions instead of calculated planning costs us billions in expenditure that adds no value to the lives of majority instead creating the ngiritas of this country
How can you open schools yet we don’t know how covid will react..it doesn’t mean that becoz covid is going down that someone can’t be infected..schools should be set to open on January 2021…also how can students open school and do KCSE and KCPE Yet they have not completed the syllabus..please rethink your idea
Great question Kevin.Education is a system that can’t be broken.after the kcpe, will secondary schools receive form ones again? What will happen to the current form ones?
Wataacha kusoma
We have had enough of this story. All this implementation needs enough time to plan all this when will it be done if they are still holding money for doing all this? Always repeating the same thing.
Please CS Magoha this pandemic is real pple a doing well even without schooling so let the vaccine be brought by before casting your stones whatever otherwise children will die and ablame will be on you ?
What’s up! Total confusion in the ministry of education. Opening of schools has become confusion to parents and Learners.
Our president Uhuru Kenyatta should come in by himself.
Parents will require true information to let them arrange for school fees and other necessities for their children.
The schools will be reopened for candidates only to do their exams or for other classes also? For issue of exam will it be fare for all the candidates to sit for the exam, being some did not have equal opportunity to prepare for this year exam.
Rather than putting us on a rush to reopen schools on November of which nothing much will be recovered,can you please plan to reopen school in January 2021 because as parents,we have set our minds there.
The damage already done on the examination candidates can not be repaired by opening schools in November. Let the country prepare and open schools in January 2021
I don’t see the reason why schools should not be opened even in October. Who says that January will be better than today? If all precautions have been worked on by the ministry of education, then our children should move fourth to attaining their dreams.
Honestly if there ever was a time the government made a completely ridiculous idea it is now…surely how can kcse and kcpe exams be carried out this year yet the syllabus is not complete and also truth be told most children haven’t been studying enough kindly mr magoha let schools be opened next year
Honestly if there ever was a time the government made a completely ridiculous idea it is now…surely how can kcse and kcpe exams be carried out this year yet the syllabus is not complete and also truth be told most children haven’t been studying enough..to make matters worse co-curricular activities have been banned meaning the students productivity will go down and over all won’t even enjoy school
Open schools professor. We are tired of waiting. COVID 19 is here to stay
Let’s learn to live with it just like we have learnt to live with Malaria and HIV AIDS.
I personally will return my children to school in January 2021. What is this rush for? Who is Magoha trying to appease/ impress? Kenya Private Schools Association? MoE cartels? What is the logic of schools resuming in November? Are we changing our school calendar for the school year to be ending in July? A good proportion of teachers are in the vulnerable group age bracket. What about them & their families? Kids be coming home evening to their parents some of whom are also in the vulnerable group age bracket. Let schools open in January 2021.
What noooo students should wait until January 2021 most parents are not ready to put their children at risk of contracting the virus.The curve lowering still doesn’t mean that it can’t go up within a month or week after schools reopen.Please rethink your decision->CS Magoha
True rethinking again
Let us not risk our children and teachers , let us be patient our children will not die if they start going to school by January next year ,I understand it is a hard time for parents, teachers and students but please we better be alive than to risk our lives
School opening should not be a bother to parents .At school trs will take care of them better than home
This all total nonsense the parents have suffered enough,total confusion and non committal by this so called magoha.education is a basic need for every child in this country.what we are facing is double tragedy,get an examble the children’s are now grown new school outfit is mandatory,pregnancy has taken lead toll,drugs have been laid bare call over accessible even over the retail counters,job loses for parents I mean school fees will be a thing of the past , overgrown kids repeating classes.The government should stop playing politics on this school issue.moreso the corona pandemic mostly has affected the less immune,aged and young agels
John masila kitui.Cs don’t allow people to push youfor the reopening of school in November , 2021 is not far pls.
We shall not resumeee
So money was set aside for schools to prepare for opening from Covid 19 funds?Is the money in the schools? What about TTCs? Let’s be sincere. Or were schools to borrow?
This is ridiculous, should Magoha come clear coz he’s contradiction him self, we need assurance of our kids when schools reopened why all the rush already as parents we have planned for next year as the ministry of education announced earlier, we are not sure if the government decides to reopen schools november have to ensure safety of learners.
Me As a parent my kids will go back to school on January 2021! Before that never.. I’m not ready to risk lives of my Two kids no way…..
Who reads these comments, do they ever reach the leaderless and direction less Ministry of Education?
Where are these Covid billions they are talking about?
Ministry of education is confused. Magoha has no ability to give direction. There’s only appearance of busy bodies doing nothing every moment. Instead of rotating around and responding based on the mood of the people, let him go back to the office and analze the policy
Students are not ready for the November exams syllabus not yet covered
Be specific on the actual date of school reopening for the concerned parties to prepare.
Schools should reopen either on Feb next yr or March bcoz if the children are going back to school becoz the cases are reducing it doesn’t mean that the disease can’t reach them and how can they learn with masks on it will be difficult for them to breathe hence brain thinking will be low..I still stand schools should and must not reopen.
It’s imposible for the kcse and kcpe exam to be done this year. Kindly,mr cs its too late bana unless you are having a plan of changing education calender. Mr cs let the school be opened next year january,and be firm with your decision pls
Is magoha talking of secondary schools only or public primary? He is talking of putting infrastructure place when he has not availed fund to primary schools. How is expecting all this he is talking about in learning institutions without fund.
Comment Text*All participants of education; teachers,parents and students need enough time for psychological preparation about reopening of schools. Teachers need to plan themselves for the reopening, same to learners.Parents had set their minds for reopening to be on January.They therefore need time to look for fee..The best time to reopen should be January.
Bwana Cs, have you forgotten about boarding schools? Are there additional dormitories and dinning halls??? Talk of national schools with a population of 1700-2000 students??? Will it be safe to reopen such schools?
I have gone through your comments and I think most of you who r not in agreement with CS Magoha reopening schools in November I support u…….as a form four student exams cannot be done this year because we had not yet finished the syllabus and we have not yet received as expected because we need support from our teachers……and please Magoha stop confusing us students about the reopening date u r only causing tension,anxiety and unnecessary stress in us u should think about other people’s thought before making such a drastic decision
Cs States that learners below 9yrs to be accompanied by their class teachers on arrival. This isn’t possible because they arrive in school at different times. when will lessons commence?
The form one and grade one pupils will still be in the same class, where will the current std 8 and nursery pupils move to?
Just
Just wait until January 2021, teachers are ready to start fresh
Moghoa thing twice.
We’ve leave with other diseases..even this one we will.. But here again most of primary boys are to go for initiation…this november at it use to be…. So january is ok..not now
When kcse and kcpe exams will be sat for where will the learners go or we’ll be having old form ones and new ones?