School were closed for more than six months due to Covid-19 pandemic, but there is a sigh of relief as Form Four, Class Eight and Grade Four students are expected back to school on October 12, 2020.
On Tuesday October 6, The CS for Education Prof. George Magoha assured parents the reopening of schools is in line with Presidential directive and following broad-based education stakeholder consultations.
He highlighted the following Covid-19 guidelines and protocols ahead of the reopening schools.
1. Face masks
Mandatory use of face masks to all learners teachers and subordinate staff and all other persons accessing the schools.
2. Hygiene
All learners and staff to observance of high levels of hygiene. Hand washing should be practiced frequently. Where there is no running water, schools will use sanitizers.
3. Temperature checks
Monitoring of the body temperature for all learners, staff and all other persons accessing the schools
4. Physical distancing
Although physical distancing will remain a challenge, it should not be used as a bottleneck to keep any child away from school.
5. Fumigation
All schools that had been used as quarantine centres have been fumigated under the supervision of the Ministry of Health in readiness for re-opening. All schools that had been designated as quarantine centres but not used, need not be fumigated prior to their re-opening.
6. Health facility
All schools have been linked to the nearest public health facility prior to being re-opened.
7. Psychosocial and spiritual support
All teachers are encouraged to continuously provide psychosocial and spiritual support to learners and school support staff during the duration of the current pandemic.
8. Compliance
Boards of Management/ Principals/ Head-Teachers shall ensure full compliance with the guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health.
The CS. for Education further stated that his Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will continuously monitor adherence to the guidelines in order to determine when to re-open for all other learners in primary and secondary schools.