The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Wilson Sossion has today confirmed that Schools are not adequately prepared concerning the government health guidelines that are to be put in place for safety of learners and teachers.
Wilson Sossion while talking to Citizen TV this morning said” Schools are not adequately prepared If learners are coming to schools without masks, what are teachers to do? We must see tangible & measurable preparations between now & January. Teachers with any form of illness must not go to school”
“There are over 30 COVID-19 deaths of teachers in the last 4 weeks. How can the Govt. provide desks & other funding but not masks for learners? Govt. must invest in schools in January. If Govt. does not prepare, schools will be turned into death traps” Wilson Sossion added.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) also released the number of secondary school heads who have lost their lives since the phased re-opening of schools was announced in October 2020.
According to the association, 13 principals have so far succumbed to COVID-19, The Nation reported on Tuesday, October 17.
The announcement was made hours after a video clip of students from Oyugis Girls Secondary School mourning the death of their principal went round on social media.
The Star, however, reported officials dispelled rumours the elderly principal identified as Martha Ouma might have succumbed to COVID-19.
The announcement also comes a day after the Ministry of Education outlined new measures to normalize the disruption of the school calendar
According to the MOH at least seven schools have reported cases of the virus with over 100 pupils testing positive.
Though the cases were expected, observers had allayed fears stating that the disease was not causing serious illness in children as compared to adults.