“Poor families have also been left out of the distance learning platforms being rolled out by schools and colleges through television, radio and the internet. Given that many families cannot afford computers and the internet, learning institutions should take equity into consideration in implementing distance learning,” Mr Misori said.
He asked Kenya Institute of curriculum development(KICD) and the Ministry of Education to ensure that the distance learning platforms being rolled out are as comprehensive as possible.
“Timetables coming from KICD and MoE have very short lessons that do not provide sufficient delivery of the curriculum,” Mr Misori said, adding: “While digital learning is a temporary solution, learners must be protected from cyber crimes during this crisis. This is especially important since most learners access the internet through public cybercafés. However, good technology might be, it is fraught with challenges and cannot replace classroom teaching.”
He added that the government should assure Kenyans that the pandemic will not lead to job losses in the public sector.
“If anything, this crisis has revealed the level of underemployment in key sectors, including healthcare and education. The government should commit to employ more providers of essential services as soon as this pandemic is resolved,” Mr Misori said.
He added that the government should support private employers to enable them retain the staff they had before the crisis.
“Kenyans must come out of this crisis together. Learners and workers who have lost, or will lose their loved ones, will require psychological support,” he said.
