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Breaking Education News

How to present your thoughts on schools’ reopening 

The National Covid-19 Education Response Committee is racing against time to come up with proposals on the Kenyan academic calendar and schools’ reopening. The committee’s chairperson Sarah Ruto has invited all stakeholders and the public to submit their views on the best possible practices in returning the education sector to normalcy.

The general public has up to May 22, 2020 to submit their proposals to the committee.

“Pursuant to article 10 (1) and (2) of the constitution and section 4(I) of the Basic Education Act, No. 14 of 2013, the committee now invites all stakeholders and the public to submit their views on the best possible national response (on how to address the current crisis created by the covid-19 pandemic),” says Dr Sara Ruto, the committee’s chairperson, via a memoranda.

The committee is seeking input on how to safely execute the reopening of Basic education institutions. These institutions, that were closed indefinitely in mid-March, include Pre-primary, primary, secondary schools and Teacher Training Colleges.

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How to submit your opinion.

The committee also expects submissions on how to reorganize the school calendar and give views on the fate of boarding schools. Input is also required on the possible health measures that should be put in place for the learners and teachers to curb spread of the virus in schools once they reopen.

The National COVID-19 Committee now invites all stakeholders and the public to submit their views on the best possible national response in line with the committee’s terms of reference for the basic education sub-sector
The National COVID-19 Committee now invites all stakeholders and the public to submit their views on the best possible national response in line with the committee’s terms of reference for the basic education sub-sector

Wondering how to make your contribution? Kenyans wishing to make a contribution are at liberty to do so by sending a written memoranda to the Secretariat. This can be done via e-mail to covid19erc@kicd.ac.ke or through the postal office by using the address P.O. Box 30231-00100, Nairobi.

already some citizens have turned to social media platforms to air their views. But, this may not bear much fruits as the committee will only consider suggestions shared via the official email and postal addresses.

The Dr. Sara Ruto-led committee is faced with the daunting task of address such concerns as how social distancing would be achieved in the already overcrowded public schools.

Breaking Education News

CS Magoha asked to release schools’ reopening plan and calendar

President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked the ministry of education to come up with a revised school calendar. Speaking during this year’s Madaraka day celebrations on Monday, at State House in Nairobi, the president told the ministry to draft a schools’ reopening plan so that learning can resume.

“The Ministry of Education (is directed to) fast-track and finalize the ongoing consultations with the stakeholders that will provide an appropriate calendar for gradual resumption of education in the country.  The guidelines should also include protocols to be followed by all learning institutions to guarantee the safety of our children.” said the head of state.

Uhuru said he felt for parents and candidates as they were the most hit by the current paralysis in the education sector that has been brought about by the covid 19 pandemic.

“I appreciate the anxiety weighing heavy on the minds of parents and children – particularly those preparing for the national examinations.  I share the heavy hearts of all the faithful who can no longer congregate and share in worship of The Almighty.” he added.

The president’s directive comes at a time when the ministry of education is faced with a herculean task of safely reopening basic learning institutions that were closed in mid March when the first cases of covid 19 disease were reported in the country.

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The national covid 19 education response committee, that presented its report to Prof Magoha, among other recommendations want schools to be reopened in phases as from September this year. The committee also proposes that the KCSE and KCPE examinations be pushed to February, March next year so as to give the candidates enough time to prepare to sit the all important national tests.

Education CS George Magoha. He has insisted that reopening of basic learning institutions will solely depend on advise from the health ministry officials.

While receiving the report, last week, CS Magoha CS Magoha said that a child who is well and safe at home is better than one who attempted to do the exam and died. he advised Parents to be ready to stay with their children (at home) even longer. He added that reopening of learning institutions will be guided by health situation.

Some countries in other parts of the country have been forced to close down the schools after attempts to reopen them flopped. Last week, South Korea became the latest country to close hundreds of schools that had reopened days earlier after a spike in cases of the
novel coronavirus. Reports showed that 838 schools of the 20,902 in the East Asian region country that were supposed to reopen on Wednesday did not, including in Seoul, and hundreds closed on Thursday in Seoul, Bucheon and other cities.

Kenyans will be waiting to see the work plan and rescheduled school calendar that the ministry of education is set to release in coming few days. but, this latest directive from the president would see the ministry speed up the release of the reopening guidelines and calendar.

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CS Magoha: Holidays to be shortened and longer class time

August holiday to be shortened by two-weeks to compensate for learning time lost due to the current Covid-19 when schools reopen in June, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Geroge Magoha now says.

While appearing before the Parliament’s education committee, earlier today, Prof. Magoha said term two half term will be shortened by four days while, the August holiday will be reduced by two weeks. This is in a bid to enable learners to recover lost time and content.

Learning will also be carried out for longer hours during normal school days.

The above is contained in a report by CS Magoha in his response to the National Assembly’s Education Committee that wanted to know the measures the ministry has put in place to mitigate effects posed by the covid-19 pandemic; on the education sector.

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The CS is in record saying this year’s national examinations will not be post-poned.

He has also restated that schools will remain closed till June 4 and that the Government will review the situation before advising the public of the next step regarding the start of second term.

The Ministry is currently providing online learning services to learners across the country via a number of digital platforms.

“The content for online learning for the national curriculum is available on the KICD website and radio lessons are available for free,” Magoha says adding that the service is available to all learners.

He however says the government is making all it can to ensure all learners have the necessary gadgets to attend to the online lessons.

The Ministry has lined up a huge budget of about Sh20 billion to be utilized once schools reopen. These estimates are contained in the Kenya Basic Education Covid-19 emergency response plan that will run for 18 months beginning June, 2020 when schools reopen. A chunk of these funds will be utilized to ensure health, safety and well-being of learners, teachers and education staff.

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