Giving examples of countries where learning has resumed, Magoha told MPs yesterday that continued stay of the learners at home till January may not make any difference as there was no guarantee the Covid-19 situation will change drastically.
The CS indicated the government plans to consider phased re-opening, with Form Four and Standard Eight candidates being the first lot to go back to school.
Magoha, who appeared before the National Assembly’s Education Committee to give update on preparations by the ministry for re-opening, however, did not provide possible re-opening date(s).
“I cannot give you a date, but I assure you that the government is taking every measure into consideration,” he said.
“What we must ask ourselves is what is going to be different in January 2021.” he added.
The CS, however, confessed it would be difficult to ensure social distance among learners in schools, stating that it can only be achieved by having fewer students at a time.
He also indicated that some corporates had committed to provide face masks and sanitisers for the schools once they re-open.
“Reducing contact in learning institutions by having fewer learners at the same time will have a great impact in reducing Covid-19 cases and fatalities associated with re-opening of institutions,” the CS told the committee.
“For schools, reopening should prioritise candidate classes (Standard 8 and Form 4) and the pioneer Competency Based Curriculum cohort (Grade 4) to facilitate smooth transition,” said the CS.
He cited Zambia and Angola, which he said have resumed learning that was disrupted by the global pandemic.
Learning is also going on in Tanzania and Burundi.
In his last address, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked the Education CS to come up with modalities of ensuring safe resumption of learning.
“Learning institutions should only be reopened when we have and can sufficiently guarantee the safety of all our children. Let us not focus on when schools will reopen, but on how they will re-open,” Uhuru said.
Magoha told the committee about the ongoing engagement by education stakeholders who gave a green light to re-opening of universities and colleges.
He said they are putting command centres to monitor how the tertiary institutions and universities will cope under the new environment.
Tell this person called magoha students agreed to repeat schools next year but magoha is not not giving out a straight answer he is giving out curvy answers because he said,
1st he said September
2nd he said next year
3rd he said October
4th he will say ?????????????????
Magoha is putting us under too much pressure.Some of us learn very far away from homes.Parents have been drained during this pandemic.Think about the transport,the upkeep needs money.We all were prepared for january
Magoha should be serious for once….this are our kids life and future not toys….does he know most parents don’t HV work…what is he planning for such parents…second, all students are repeating y the rush yet January its only 2months next year its almost near..y don’t he gv parents time wajipange January all kids back to school…
Let Mr. Magohah can you release standard 8 , form 4, and first years to all colleges and universities
Magoha we have no problem our children repeating there is no hurry. We have many graduates who have no jobs because old people have refused to retire. Stop stressing our children yet the curve has not flattened
No school at all
Which students are you speaking on behalf of may i ask?because many students are disputing to go back next year..the psychological challenges of being kept out of school is just as harmful.but i agree that this back and forth thing is irritating.
Oooh Magoha please we are not in hurry at all.
Why didn’t you realized earlier about Nigeria and other countries no one will risk there children to go back to school.
Ama nivile serikali ya njee imekataa kutowa msaada Kenya ndio unalazima ufunguwe chuo
Our children are not in hurry, we can’t risk to take them back to school now we are ready for them to repeat come Jan. Our children health matters a lot
The difference in opening in January is that parents will have time to look for school fees and also to prepare their kids for school and it will also give time for the government to help solve various issues in schools like social distancing and prepare more I don’t know why you are in such a hurry to reopen even when the president said we can’t risk the lives of our children why do u want to risk please stop confusing us let it be next year like you said this academic year is lost
Just a thought. We can only delay reopening of schools if the government can assure us that children are safer at home. It’s a really big assumption that home is safer than schools. I see children playing together, moving together and because no one can promise than Jan will be any different, my opinion is we start thinking of how learning will work against any pandemic.
How is what l am waiting to be explained since here in Bahrain we do virtual education including exam and we are good with it.
This guy now should never been appointed as cs why is he insisting on school reopening remember at first he said july again next year and now october he is not organized let schools resume next year please and he should not compare kenya with other countries
the cs should be smart. he seems not capable of making his own decisions. prioritise first on expanding infastacture then think about reopening.
The CS is a confused fella.
Aaah magoha hajielewi sahi watu wangekuwa washarudi shule but he has nothing to loose his children wako majuu and this is kenya they don’t think about the welfare of everyone just their own interest,you know the truth on your side ungetaka watu warudi shule wangekuwa washarudi si mambo ati you first minimize the no for what? Even that is not fair watu wangerudi shule alafu mumake timetable mpya is it that hard……juu hio desicion ya form 4 na class 8 kurudi si fair at all mbona hao wengine wabaki na wote wako behind kama nikurudi shule kila mtu arudi sahi corona imepungua na all we have to do is have faith hio
Support staffs in schools are not happy since they have never been paid since the pandemic started but bom teachers have been paid. Do you expect the cooks to go and prepare for opening of schools and they have never been paid, plz do something to the school support staffs if you want schools to open.
I don’t know what procedure or method was used by president Kenyatta when he was appointing this guy cs Magoha , because he himself is confused,,anarukaruka
Leo anasema hii kesho akiamka anamka na zake, recently prezzo ameadress the press concerning risto za chuo.yeye ashasema uni na macolle zifunguliwe Oct , yeye ameona hio do wapi, Kama anaweza kutusponsor the better, coz unaget wazazi mob Awana job , job iliharibika juu ya hio pandemic, huyo jamaa atupee time tujipange……”AWACHO AYUEYO POOH!!”
Exactly I wonder who appointed him,,,,,he is so confused
If resuming next year makes no difference “your words” then why hurry to open school now… What does makes no difference mean??
Confused magoha let’s schools reopen next year.. remember many parents lost their jobs during the pandemic and as we know many students learn away far from home …if you reopen now transport will be a problem for some parents…magoha don’t compare Kenya with other countries..stop thinking of yourself think also of another parents who lost jobs during the pandemic…. stop acting like a pregnant chameleon
Confused magoha let’s schools reopen next year.. remember many parents lost their jobs during the pandemic and as we know many students learn away far from home …if you reopen now transport will be a problem for some parents…magoha don’t compare Kenya with other countries..stop thinking of yourself think also of another parents who lost jobs during the pandemic…. stop acting like a pregnant chameleon
Magoha leave student’s until next year. Because at this period many parents are jobless and they cannot paying school fees.
Magoha leave student’s until next year. Because at this period many parents are jobless and they cannot afford paying school fees.
Mahogany to open schools next year .Going to school now is dengerous of life coz students and students must interact this may repot the positive cases coz Kenya is still reporting positive cases .