The recommendations by the Magoha appointed team has dashed the hopes for reopening schools anytime soon. This is after tough layouts for reopening schools were presented. The ten member team advised on tough conditions if schools were to be reopened for learning.
The committee recommends that the 1.8 million Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates be given priority to report to schools in September this year. The rest will report at least two weeks after learning institutions make adjustments to meet social distancing requirement and other admission logistics.
By the end of August, about 24 weeks will have been lost since President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered schools shut on March 13 to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
It emerged that the proposal to have national examinations done in February next year would allow candidates to recover lost learning time. With schools set to open in September, about 20 weeks will be available to students before the February examinations.
“This will be adequate time for teachers to cover the syllabus and help candidates revise for exams,” said a member of the team.
These are recommendations by the taskforce charged to advise on school reopening
•15 learners per class
•1.5 metre apart sitting arrangement
•More classes, chairs and desks
•Constant supply of running water.
•provision of soap/sanitizer
•fumigation chemicals and equipment to be availed
•protective gear and masks for teachers and learners
•sanitizing booths
•teachers to teach in their locality
•re-admit learners in the nearest local schools
•drop all co-curricula activities
•stimulus package for the education sector
•revive digital learning programme
reopen schools earliest September
push national exams to 1st Quarter of 2021
revise school calendar after the pandemic is contained
– Marking of assembly grounds to ensure social distancing
-Addition of masks as part of school uniform
– Decongestion of dormitories
– Shift system during meals
-Use of assisted digital learning at tertiary institutions
Adoption of shifts /modular programmes on campus/ tertiary institution to decongest in school number of trainees at university and tertiary institutions
The Education Minister’s Task force on Schools reopening was a well thought out piece of work, born of clear minded group free of contradictions. The government must now consider returning Health Ministry to the Central Government.
Our Counties have abused this noble responsibility as no County can today in case of school acute corona outbreak hospitalise even seven primary schools at ago. It is a pity that we can not allow to continue. as We don’t know which disease worse than Corona will next attack humanity.
The state of our County Hospitals are woeful, dispeak-able, managed by arrogant County official who present their responses as pedestal politicians who don’t seam to need a re-election.
Hon, Waziri Professor Magoha, should put up County Task Force in each County to follow up this recommendations to[ M&E] the progress of the Corona virus County initiatives and ability to prepare for the Schools opening in September. It can not be assumed that all the Counties will be ready with the proposals made to safeguard the Learners and their Teacher, a matter that will endanger many lives of this Nation’s children.
Like in Busia County where I reside, and having worked in Garisa, Mandera Isiolo , Marsabit, and Sololo in Moyale this conditions are unachievable unless the Ministry whips up Politicians, the County Governors and sets up Task forces to oversee and report to him it may be a mirage looking at the ever increasing infections.
John M. W. Wanga.
Former Educator and Principal of
AIC NAirobi Training College.