Tag Archives: SCHOOLS’ REOPENING DATES

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CS Magoha on reopening of schools- Here are the reasons why we should reopen schools in October

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Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has said schools should be reopened this year as opposed to January next year, 2021. The CS said this while appearing before the Departmental Committee on Education, today, for a status update on Measures for safe reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have to ask ourselves what will be different in January 2021, if there won’t be much difference, we need to move towards a consensus to reopen schools as soon as possible… I cannot give you a definite date, but I can assure you that it is Time to Reopen Learning Institutions, because we do not expect any much difference now.” He told the Legislators.

But, Magoha was quick to point out that it is only the Ministry of Health that will give him a clean bill of health before reopening primary and secondary schools.

“Reopening of all learning institutions should take cognizance of the guiding principles provided by Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education… Decisions regarding reopening of learning institutions may change as informed by prevailing circumstances and increased knowledge of the COVID-19.” He added.

According to CS Magoha, the minimum reopening conditions as set by the Ministry of Health. He says reducing contact in learning institutions by having fewer learners at the same time will have a great impact in reducing COVID-19 cases and fatalities associated with reopening of institutions. At the same time, social distancing, hand-washing with soap or use of sanitizers, wearing of masks / face shields and monitoring body temperature will have a great impact on reducing COVID-19 infections.

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Magoha’s pronouncement, on Wednesday, came a day after he announced a phased reopening approach to institutions of higher learning; with priority given to finalists.

“Reopening of learning institutions should prioritise finalists and examination cohorts in Universities,Teacher Training Colleges and TVET institutions. For schools, reopening should prioritize candidate classes (Standard 8 and Form 4) and the pioneer Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) cohort (Grade 4) to facilitate smooth transition.” Magoha explained.

Education CS Prof. George Magoha makes a point before the Departmental Committee on Education on Wednesday for a status update on Measures for safe reopening of schools amid COVID-19, a petition on delayed payment of suppliers by Secondary Schools, and to respond to questions by MPs.
Education CS Prof. George Magoha makes a point before the Departmental Committee on Education on Wednesday for a status update on Measures for safe reopening of schools amid COVID-19, a petition on delayed payment of suppliers by Secondary Schools, and to respond to questions by MPs.

During his address to the Nation on Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned against rushed reopening of basic learning institutions saying the safety of learners whould be given priority.

Teachers have at the same been told to continue reporting for duty and ensure their schools are ready to receive learners once the opening dates are announced.

The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has instructed school heads and principals to update all teachers’ details in both the Teachers Management Information System (TMIS) and Teacher Performance Appraisal Development (TPAD) systems. This is supposed to be done by close of Business on Friday October 2, 2020.

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CS Magoha issues new orders on pregnant school girls

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Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has issued new orders aimed at tracking school girls who may be pregnant or have just given birth. This follows a recent stern warning by President Uhuru Kenyatta, to Chiefs, over increased cases of teenage pregnancies in the country; more so during this covid-19 break.

The head of State read the riot act on Thursday, last week, at the KICC in Nairobi, at the close of a two-day training workshop on Kazi Mtaani for Regional and County Commissioners. He said area chiefs will be held accountable for school-going children who will defiled under their watch.

“You as the area chief will have to answer, where were you when all this was happening?” posed the president

“People must be disciplined, how do we allow people to go around impregnating young girls, and we do not say anything? We are going to wait for the DNA and those people will pay,” President Uhuru added.

CS Magoha |(who has been blaming pornographic sites and prolonged closure of schools for the surge in teenage pregnancies) has now ordered for immediate collection of data for affected school girls.

“”The media reports from different organizations indicate that there is a problem that need to be addressed and this is more so as it caught the attention of the President. The Ministry (of Education) therefore need to have information on the girls who have become pregnant during this season in order to come up with an intervention as schools re-open in January, 2021.” CS Magoha orders in the latest circular sent to Regional, County and Sub-county Directors of Education.

THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL GIRLS ARE EITHER PREGNANT OR YOUNG MOTHERS

Magoha orders the field officers to work closely with the local administration, chiefs, Ministry of Health Officials and School Heads so as to to get full information on the identity and location of the school girls.

The Ministry intends to use the data in order to prevent massive school drop outs when learning resumes next year.

A recent report compiled by the National Council on Population and Development (NCPD) painted a grim picture on the status of teenage pregnancies in the country. According to the report 2 out of 5 teenagers in Kenya are either young mothers or pregnant. The report further alludes that, during the current covid-19 pandemic, close to 20,828 girls aged between 10 and 14 years have become mothers while the older girls aged between 15-19 years, 24,106 are either pregnant or mothers already.

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It is back to school for teachers

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Teachers may be forced to cut short their covid-19 holiday and report back to schools, if the latest circular by the ministry of education is to go by. According to the contents of the circular, seen by this reporter, most public schools have been left unattended since schools were closed in mid-March as a precautionary measure to curb spread of covid-19 in learning institutions.

The ministry is concerned that school properties have been exposed to vandalism and theft as a result of the pro-longed absence of teachers and learners.

“This is to inform you that reports reaching us indicate that most learning institutions are left unmanned in the day and night, therefore exposing our institutions to vandalism and theft,” reads a memo from the Ministry officials to secondary school principals and primary school head teachers.

With re-opening of basic learning institutions pushed to January next year, the ministry has now directed school administrators ‘to ensure that schools are guarded during the day and night.’ This directive will open a Pandora’s box as most schools sent staff on unpaid leaves. School guards who should otherwise safeguard institutions’ properties have received no salaries for the last over 4 months as school accounts ran dry.

WHO MANAGES TEACHERS

What will cause a storm among the teachers’ circles is another directive that requires ‘teachers to be deployed on duty as usual’. With most teachers staying far away from schools it will be almost impossible to have them on duty at this time.

Pictures that have been doing rounds on social media platforms show the sorry state of schools; with some classrooms invaded by anthills. But, the ministry now wants ‘bushes in school compounds to be cleared’.

Management of teachers is the sole responsibility of the Teachers Service Commission, TSC. The ministry has been at logger heads with the teachers’ employer over this key role. Consequently, unless such orders to have teachers manning schools are issued by TSC the teachers may opt to ignore directives from other quarters.

A section of the media and Kenyans have been pushing for the suspension of payment of teachers’ salaries. Proponents hold that the government should not pay teachers as they are ‘off’ duty; terming them ‘idle’.

TSC has indicated that salary increments for teachers will be paid at the end of July; as agreed in the current CBA.

This move did not go down well with teachers who turned to social media to castigate those moving the agenda; to have their salaries chopped.

Again, some other schools are being used as covid-19 isolation centres. Having teachers report to such institutions will only further escalate spread of the deadly virus.

RE-ASSIGNEd DUTIES

Some other campaigners have been pushing for re-assignment of new roles to teachers. The list of the so called ‘patriotic duties’ is long. From manning places of worship, working at ‘Huduma’ centres to enforcing curfews and covid-19 health regulations….

It remains to be seen if indeed teachers will be pushed back to schools to do the menial jobs.

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How schools are posing risks to learners’ lives

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A performance audit report on fire preparedness in secondary schools shows that most institutions were not constructed according to prescribed safety standards. The report that was prepared by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu was presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday raises eyebrows as most schools are congested.

“School buildings did not adhere to these safety standards because most of the institutions did not have safety subcommittees to ensure compliance with safety measures,” the report reads in part.

The report shows that 30 schools, out of the 40 that were sampled, recorded more students above the stated numbers in their registration certificates.

Regulations on dormitories were mostly violated, the report shows.

“Most of the dormitories were congested which was attributed to the government introducing 100 per cent transition of students from the year 2017. Schools are, therefore, congested and this increases the risk of loss of lives in the event of a fire,” adds the report.

The congestion in the boarding secondary schools has been attributed to the directive by the government in 2017 that introduced 100 per cent transition policy; without proper funding of the schools.

“The increased transition rate was not planned for in advance by the government in terms of infrastructure. The Ministry of Education had instructed secondary schools not to collect funds from parents to assist in construction of new infrastructure. Schools, therefore, had no option but to use the available infrastructure leading to congestion and a high risk of loss of life in the event of a fire.” The Gathungu report explains.

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The report further shows that the doorways should be easily accessible for emergency purposes, 22 out of the 42 sampled schools had their doors opening inwards in the classrooms. This contravenes the safety manual for schools because exit of students during emergencies will be hampered. The situation is even worse in other schools; whose dormitories have windows that have been reinforced with metal grills.

These revelations come in the wake of a myriad of past school fires and unrest in which some learners sadly lost lives.

The reports will be discussed by Legislators who will chat the way foeward.

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What CS Magoha said when he received the report from the national covid-19 education response committee

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Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Friday received an interim report of the Education Covid-19 Response Committee at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, KICD. While receiving the report CS Magoha said reopening of schools will not be a switch-on-switch off affair; it will be cautious, methodical and based on data, evidence from ⁦the Ministry of Health.

Here is the full address by CS Magoha;

“INTERIM REPORT OF THE COVID-19 NATIONAL EDUCATION RESPONSE COMMITTEE

“On May 12th 2020, the Ministry of Education appointed the COVID-19 National Education Response Committee to advise the Cabinet Secretary on the most prudent steps to be
taken to ensure a return to normality in the basic education sector in the face of the Coronavirus crisis.

“Upon appointing the Committee, the team was advised to work with speed to submit an interim report to the Cabinet Secretary as part of the evidence upon which the Government will make further decisions regarding the extended school closure. The current one month extension to the school re-opening dates is set to end on June 4th 2020.

“The Committee has today presented the Interim Report to the Cabinet Secretary with various proposals on possible mitigation measures that, if put in place, will ensure the
health and safety of learners in schools once they are re-opened. The Ministry will review the report before advising the country on the steps to be taken regarding the academic
calendar, and the level of preparedness that will be required of all stakeholders involved in the running of ECD centres, primary and secondary schools, and teacher training institutions.

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“The Ministry wishes to note that the COVID-19 situation obtaining during the time when the Committee collected views from all stakeholders has sharply changed this week when the infection rates have hit three digit figures. Further, the Ministry of Health has projected that the rates of COVID-19 infections are likely to hit a peak in August September 2020. The Ministry takes these projections seriously, especially in view of the fact that more than 350 of our schools are currently designated as quarantine and isolation centres.

“The import of this is that Kenyans should be aware that painful but necessary decisions will be made based on data and evidence provided by the Ministry of Health from time to time. All stakeholders should, therefore, be prepared to face the reality of a likely extended closure of our schools given that the Government will never sacrifice the health of our children at the expense of an education that can wait to be offered at a later time when the safety and health of children can be guaranteed.

“Henceforth, the Ministry will focus on coming up with strong mitigation measures that will be required in schools once they reopen based on the recommendations of the Committee and those provided by the Ministry of Health. As such, the Ministry will desist from focusing on school reopening dates and instead give priority to putting in place solid mitigation measures for the sector ecosystem.

“The Ministry recognizes that the process of reopening schools will not be a switch-on switch-off affair, but rather a carefully thought out and methodical process that must guarantee the safety and health of all learners, teachers and staff.
The Ministry plans to table some of these proposals before the National Emergency Response Committee this weekend to ensure further consultations to inform the making of a decision regarding the current one month school extension of schools, which expires on June 4th, 2020. These consultations will also take into consideration the fact that the current Government restrictions announced by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta will expire on June 6th, 2020.

“Going forward, the Ministry wishes to urge parents, guardians and care givers to continue providing guidance to their children as they learn from home, including supervising their studies through the broadcast, online and digital learning currently being provided through the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development. Parental engagement is extremely fundamental to ensure all-round development of our children during this period more than ever before.

“The Ministry will update the country from time-to-time on the current situation regarding the education sector based on the advice of the Ministry of Health. In doing so, the Ministry wishes to categorically state that all decisions will be made while giving priority to the health and safety of learners, teachers and other school staff.”

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Teachers’ salaries should remain intact- Govt told

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The government has been warned against any attempts to slash teachers’ salaries. Also receiving a red alert are the owners to private schools in the country. While addressing the press during the launch of a report on mitigation measures and recommendations on reopening of learning institutions, on Wednesday, knut secretary General Wilson Sossion said teachers’ salaries shall continue to remain intact.

“Salaries of teachers must be protected. No one, whether government or private entities, should use Covid-19 to hold the salaries of teachers,” Sossion said.

This comes even as uncertainty reigns supreme on the exact dates when schools are going to be reopened. This is after all learning institutions were closed in mid-March after Kenya reported the first case of Covid 19.

Most teachers employed by the schools’ boards are yet to receive a penny for the last couple of months with the schools facing a financial crunch due to the cut in cash flow.

“The last salary I received was in the month of February. I have rent arrears and a family to feed. If this condition persists, then Am seeing a situation where I may face starvation. I have tried to reach the principal. His calls went unanswered before he switched off his phone completely,” said one high school teacher working on BOM terms and who decided to remain anonymous.

Most schools, if not all, have sent their staff on unpaid leaves since they can not meet their monthly wages’ demands. Teachers employed by TSC continue to receive their full salaries as they are on indefinite leave. Read full news here; All teachers given indefinite leave by TSC over Corona Virus Disease.

Education CS Prof George Magoha speaks after receiving the interim report from the national covid-19 education response committee. Magoha asked parents to prepare to stay home with children for much longer as schools will only re-open when Kenya has contained the COVID-19 pandemic.

Things aren’t any better for private schools, that solely depend on school fees from learners to support their operations. And with schools closed parents have been up in arms against private school administrators whom they accuse of exploitation. This is after some schools directed the parents to pay school fees in full.

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On Friday CS Magoha waded into the row between private schools and parents advising the latter to pay fees so as to support operations at the schools.

“It was your choice to take your children to the private schools let the parents negotiate with the teachers on the charges; otherwise the private school sector will collapse…If private schools collapse all those children will come to public schools, therefore parents talk to the schools and work around how you will keep the schools open and supporting the economy.” he observed.

The government has since been urged to classify teachers and other education workers as vulnerable so as to receive stipend as other vulnerable groups do; through the cash transfer programme. Education stakeholders who met Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Matiang’i this week also urged the government to offer soft loans to education institutions during the current covid-19 pandemic period.

With schools’ reopening not expected any time soon, teachers on BOM terms and their counterparts in private schools should brace for more tough times ahead; unless the government chips in.

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