Education CS Professor George Magoha on Friday September 18, directed teachers to prepare to report back to their institutions as the final report into the school reopening plan is set to be tabled.
Addressing the media after assessing preparedness at the Mawego Technical Training Institute in Homabay County, the CS observed that many institutions had complied with directives given by the Ministry to facilitate reopening of schools.
“Teachers can start to prepare to report back to their schools to make them habitable ahead of the students’ arrival. At that time, we will have phased reopening with priority given to exam classes. In fact, technical colleges are likely to re-open soon,” he stated
Magoha stated that from his personal observation, the COVID-19 had started to flatten.
“From what I have observed, the curve is flattening and as a Ministry, we are in the process of relooking at our systems to get prepared. The report for technical and vocational institutions is ready and on Monday we will receive the other reports,” he assured.
A section of teachers openly opposed plans to reopen schools with Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman Kahi Indimuli noting that the Ministry’s failure to release funds had left schools unprepared.
Echoing his sentiments, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary-General Akelo Misori added that reopening of schools in 2020 will disrupt the calendar with poor infrastructure also affecting early reopening of schools.
At the same time, the government allocated Ksh1.9 billion under the Economic Stimulus Programme for the furniture upgrade which targets SMEs and local artisans.
CS Magoha also released health protocols for the reopening of primary and secondary schools.
Education institutions will be required to develop policies and procedures suitable in their own environment to enable smooth reopening.
Education CAS Zach Kinuthia explained that an education stakeholders’ meeting would decide on the exact date of schools reopening.
“The trend with the virus has changed with fewer infections and so we are optimistic that we may reopen by the end of the year,” he stated.