Tag Archives: Schools’ reopening

Breaking Education News

Here is what must be done before and after schools are reopened.

Leave a comment

The Ministry of Education has released the final guidelines for reopening of all learning institutions; during the current covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines have been given so as to protect learners, teachers and staff at learning institutions from contracting the disease.

The Ministry has documented what must be done before and after schools are reopened.

FINAL COVID 19 GUIDELINES ON  HEALTH  AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR  REOPENING  OF BASIC EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Introduction

The Government of Kenya announced the closure of all schools and learning institutions on March 15, 2020, as part of the measures to control the spread of COVID-19. The Ministry of Education developed Kenya Basic Education COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan, 2020.

The Education COVID 19 response committee that was inaugurated on 12th May 2020 recommended the following:

  • Gradual safe reopening of learning institutions
  • Staggered and in shifts where applicable
  • Priority be accorded to finalist and examination classes

Reopening process at a glance

 Prior to Reopening

Prepare critical policies, procedures and financing plans needed to improve schooling, with a focus on safe operations, including strengthening blended learning , communication to stakeholders  building capacity of relevant teams.

Part of  Reopening  process

Adopt proactive approaches to  reopening and to reintegrate most vulnerable children in order to pick up quickly in education system. Invest in  infrastructure of all buildings for social distance, well ventilated, water, sanitation and hygiene to mitigate risks, and focus on remedial education to compensate for lost instructional time.

Minimum requirements that must be met before reopening.

Safe reopening in consideration of :

  1. Ministry of Health expert advice,
  2. Social distancing in the commonly shared areas –infrastructure ( classrooms,   dormitory, dinning halls, water points , toilets, assembly grounds)
  3. Adequate clean running water,
  4. Adequate and appropriate handwashing facilities at proximity of users,
  5. Provision of adequate liquid soap,
  6. Hand sanitizers to be used  under supervision of an adult where water   and soap is not available,
  7. Use of face masks or face shield by learners and staff,
  8. Thermo- guns for daily temperature monitoring and record keeping,
  9. Supply of cleaning detergents and disinfectants ,
  10. Re-organization of institution programmes to avoid congestion of learners and staff in one place ,
  11. Referral systems for the provision of mental health and psychosocial support for learners / trainees and staff ,
  12. Ensuring continued learning to all cohorts,
  13. Establishing surveillance mechanisms.
  14. Capacity build key stakeholders on public health and hygiene protocols to ensure compliance,

Guidelines and Protocols for Reopening

  • Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces ( stair rails, door knobs, switches, desk tops),
  • Health and hygiene protocols( sneezing to the elbow, not touching the face, no handshake and hugging),
  • No gatherings,
  • Frequent and proper washing of hands/ sanitizing,
  • Learner transport to consider all hygiene protocols in accordance with the Legal Notice No. 50 on transport,
  • Designated routes to classes; multiple entrances,
  • No sharing of personal items and equipment (pencils, books, shoes, clothes, beddings, utensils),
  • Frequent and thorough cleaning of institution buildings,
  • Safe waste management procedures,
  • Communication on key COVID-19 messages,
  • Capacity development of relevant teams,
  • Support to teachers and non-teaching staff,
  • Blended learning,
  • The role of school management in prevention and response to COVID 19,
  • Mental health and psychosocial support to learners and staff,
  • Health, safety and well being of learners and staff,
  • Parental engagement and community involvement,
  • What to do when a case of COVID 19 is detected in a learning institution,
  • What to do in case of institution closure,
  • Establish surveillance mechanism,
  • National Emergency and Response Committee,
  • County multi –agency rapid response team,
  • Sub county response committee,
  • School clusters of 10 where applicable,
  • Institutional response committee,
  • A health facility within 10kms,
  • An equipped sickbay/room for temporary isolation incase of COVID 19 case,
  • Weekly progress report/feedback,
  • Strengthen guidance and counselling and spiritual services,
  • Risk assessment analysis on facilities and human resource,
  • Assessment on institutional preparedness to reopen,
  • Continuous monitoring of health indicators and effectiveness of measures to ensure continued learning,

Training Modules

Training Modules have been developed for specific categories of stakeholders on their role in curbing the spread of the virus while ensuring continued learning as follows:

  • Learners
  • Education Officials
  • Teachers
  • Non-teaching staff, parents/ guardians/ caregivers, chaplain’s, entire communities
  • Boards of Governance (Heads of Institutions, BOMs, PAs)
KNEC News Portal, Knec Schools Portal, KUCCPS News Portal

Schools’ reopening: CS Magoha gives conditions

Leave a comment

Education cabinet secretary has lashed out at the Kenya National Union of Teachers, KNUT, for insisting that they ought to have been given a slot in the recently constituted national education covid-19 response committee. Knut’s secretary general Wilson Sossion has been vocal in the media over the exclusion. But prof. Magoha now says it is not feasible to have everybody in the committee and that the learners’ interests should supersede personal interests.

“We are very serious about thinking what we need to do with our children and it’s not about everybody being there. Is the union represented, yes . We have put one unionist who will coordinate all the others and then, let us move to where we are going,” said the CS.

The CS had initially sidelined all teachers’ unions only to appoint a representative from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers – KUPPET . The committee is currently collecting views from Kenyans on how best to reopen schools.

But, knut would hear none of this, noting that the government should not rush into reopening of the schools.

Also read;
Reopening conditions

The CS noted that most schools lacked adequate infrastructure to ensure social distancing among learners; something that must be addressed urgently before schools are reopened.

“In case we are thing about reopening, we shall need a situation where there is flowing water in most schools. we must also think to keep the social distance of one metre. And, therefore having six double deckers (beds) in the cubicle is something that we shall have to reconsider,” Prof. Magoha said.

This, according to the CS, will reduce infection and ensure learners’ safety in schools.

Speaking in Kiambu while on an inspection tour of Ruiru girls high school, this past week, the CS said reopening of schools would entirely depend on a paradigm shift in Kenyan’s behaviour.

“If we are going to be bold enough to open schools, the public must agree to change their mindset and behave in a more civilized manner,” he said.

This means that the public should henceforth abide by the health ministry’s guidelines on social distancing, wearing face masks and maintaining high levels of hygiene.

Magoha watered down the World Health Organisation’s thought that the virus could move from pandemic which is easier to deal with to endemic.

“I don’t subscribe to that school of thought. We need to give the virus a few more months to see how it will pan our,” he said.

Ruiru Girls High School in Kiambu county. education CS prof George Magoha has said the school will be upgraded to be a centre of excellence.
Ruiru Girls High School in Kiambu county. education CS prof George Magoha has said the school will be upgraded to be a centre of excellence.
Breaking Education News

Reopening dates for schools, universities and cololeges; CS Magoha to make the announcement

Leave a comment

Kenyans will, SOON, have the final details on when schools are expected to reopen. During the 10th state of the nation address on Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Education CS George Magoha will be releasing exact details on reopening of schools, universities and colleges.

The President directed the CS to convene a Stake holders’ meeting so that to come up with final recommendations.

“The Ministry (of Education) will then communicate to parents and students on a way forward in regards to their studies,” said President Uhuru.

The President at the same time directed that all government institutions should be availed, unconditionally, to the Ministry of Health for isolation and quarantine purposes.

“That any Government Institutions including all sporting facilities, stadia and educational institutions and other Government facilities, upon designation by the Cabinet Secretary for Health as a public health facility, shall be availed to the Ministry of Health for Isolation and Quarantine purposes,” he directed.

CS Magoha had earlier announced that all primary and secondary schools would reopen in January next year, when the covid 19 infection curve would have flattened.

CS Magoha had announced the the 2020 academic year will be considered lost and learners will have to repeat their current classes next year.

ALSO SEE;

MURKY ROAD-MAP TO REOPENING OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN SEPTEMBER

Plans of reopening universities and Colleges in September this year may also face serious setbacks after several institutions, so far, failed to meet the minimum requirements for compliance with health guidelines on covid-19.

A top level management team from the Ministry, led by CS George Magoha, has been traversing the country to assess preparedness of the institutions; ahead of the planned reopening.

The high daily infection rates may also thwart any reopening plans for the higher learning institutions in September.

University of Nairobi has since shelved any plans of reopening in September. The University Vice Chancellor Professor Kiama Gitahi has ruled out any form of on-campus learning this year saying the Senate has reached the decision to help fight the spread of coronavirus.

“University of Nairobi is at the epicentre of COVID-19. We are responsible people to observe how the situation is unfolding and only allow learning when we are advised by experts to do so,” said the VC.

The university’s decision has informed by the high rate of infections and mortality within members of the staff.

“By Saturday we had 21 cases of positive staff and they are increasing… we’ve lost others and its a fact. UoN has over 65,000 students who live in all parts of Nairobi. You cannot tell us that putting sanitizer in the hostels will help. Until we are advised by experts. We do not think will reopen anytime soon,” Prof Kiama added.

The Ministry of education has at the same time come up with tough regulations that will be followed when schools reopen. The new measures demand for complete social distance in dormitories, classrooms, libraries and at water points.

Breaking Education News

CS Magoha asked to release schools’ reopening plan and calendar

Leave a comment

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.

SEE ALSO;

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.

RELATED NEWS