Teachers Arena has learnt that despite a court order that suspended reopening of schools till thorough consultations are made, the Ministry of Education will proceed with plans for phased reopening of schools.

High Court Judge James Makau on Wednesday had issued the order following an application by a parent claiming that Prof Magoha has announced reopening of schools on Monday tomorrow, without giving proper guidelines on how learners will be protected from Covid-19.

“The Education Cabinet Secretary or his representatives should invite all parties in the education sector within the shortest possible time to reach a settlement on the issue of reopening schools,” ruled Justice Makau.

Justice Makau had given CS Magoha three days (before 14/10/2020) to come up with a report.

However the phased reopening of schools will proceed tomorrow Monday 12th October, starting with Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4.

Exams will start on March with Class 8 sitting exams on March 22nd 2021 to 24th 2021 and Form 4’s on 25th March 2021 to 16th April 2021.

Already the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is set to conduct school-based learning assessments in all primary schools from Grade 1 to Standard 8 a week after reopening.

“The overarching aim of the assessments is to inform on possible learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic period  and suggest interventions to be put in place to address the learning gaps,” Mercy Karogo, Knec CEO, had said through a circular.

Class 8 and Grade 4  assessments will be administered from 19th to 23rd October, 2020 while Assessments for other classes will be conducted upon reopening of specific classes.

Parents have also been spotted making purchases for their children ahead of reopening tomorrow.

On Saturday most shopping centres were full of parents making back to school items.

“The CS should have given us enough time to prepare but am here to make some buying for my son cause I don’t have a choice,” said Nyawade, a parent with a form 4 candidate at Maseno school.

Some schools have made it clear that they will not accept students back unless they have masks with school labels, and have even directed them to specific shops to buy them from.

All those entering the institutions will also be required to observe high level of hygiene, wear face masks, wash their hands and adopt innovative approaches to uphold the guidelines on physical and social distancing.

On Friday Treasury released Ksh. 14.5billion for public schools under the free basic education programme.

Schools are expected to use the funds to prepare schools for safe reopening.

“Some Ksh.13.2 billion has been sent to secondary schools under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) while Ksh. 1.2 billion has been sent to public primary schools under the Free Primary Education programs,” Belio Kipsang had said.

The term that begins tomorrow will run for 11 weeks.

Learners will then get a one-week break in December and resume in January.

Teachers Arena has learnt that despite a court order that suspended reopening of schools till thorough consultations are made, the Ministry of Education will proceed with plans for phased reopening of schools.

High Court Judge James Makau on Wednesday had issued the order following an application by a parent claiming that Prof Magoha has announced reopening of schools on Monday tomorrow, without giving proper guidelines on how learners will be protected from Covid-19.

“The Education Cabinet Secretary or his representatives should invite all parties in the education sector within the shortest possible time to reach a settlement on the issue of reopening schools,” ruled Justice Makau.

Justice Makau had given CS Magoha three days (before 14/10/2020) to come up with a report.

However the phased reopening of schools will proceed tomorrow Monday 12th October, starting with Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4.

Exams will start on March with Class 8 sitting exams on March 22nd 2021 to 24th 2021 and Form 4’s on 25th March 2021 to 16th April 2021.

Already the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is set to conduct school-based learning assessments in all primary schools from Grade 1 to Standard 8 a week after reopening.

“The overarching aim of the assessments is to inform on possible learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic period  and suggest interventions to be put in place to address the learning gaps,” Mercy Karogo, Knec CEO, had said through a circular.

Class 8 and Grade 4  assessments will be administered from 19th to 23rd October, 2020 while Assessments for other classes will be conducted upon reopening of specific classes.

Parents have also been spotted making purchases for their children ahead of reopening tomorrow.

On Saturday most shopping centres were full of parents making back to school items.

“The CS should have given us enough time to prepare but am here to make some buying for my son cause I don’t have a choice,” said Nyawade, a parent with a form 4 candidate at Maseno school.

Some schools have made it clear that they will not accept students back unless they have masks with school labels, and have even directed them to specific shops to buy them from.

All those entering the institutions will also be required to observe high level of hygiene, wear face masks, wash their hands and adopt innovative approaches to uphold the guidelines on physical and social distancing.

On Friday Treasury released Ksh. 14.5billion for public schools under the free basic education programme.

Schools are expected to use the funds to prepare schools for safe reopening.

“Some Ksh.13.2 billion has been sent to secondary schools under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) while Ksh. 1.2 billion has been sent to public primary schools under the Free Primary Education programs,” Belio Kipsang had said.

The term that begins tomorrow will run for 11 weeks.

Learners will then get a one-week break in December and resume in January.