Teachers across the country reported back to their work stations on Monday after staying at home for over six months. A spot check in most schools indicated that most teachers heeded to the Monday deadline set by the Teachers Service Commission, TSC.
This is the first time that teachers were reporting back to work following a closure of all learning institutions in March this year to combat spread of the deadly corona virus disease.
School heads were expected to convene meetings with teachers and other stake holders to prepare for reopening of the schools. Learners are expected to troop back to schools next month.
The Heads will then submit a status report to the Commission for further action. Among other items, TSC needs a report on level of preparedness of schools in terms of availability of water.
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Ahead of the reporting of learners, teachers will be expected to prepare all professional records like schemes of work, lesson plans and other documents used in curriculum implementation.
The employer had warned of dire consequences for those who would not report to schools by Monday September 28, 2020. TSC field officers will collate information on numbers of teachers who have reported for duty and submit it to the head office.
In some schools teachers were seen tidying up the compounds by sweeping and mopping classrooms. On the other hand various committees were formed to oversee the preparations for reopening of the schools.
The reporting committees will prepare to check the temperatures of learners as they report back. While, the healthy committees will ensure the Ministry of Health’s guidelines on combating spread of covi19 are followed to the latter.
Schools are expected to reopen next month with candidate classes first to arrive in schools.
As teachers report back to schools they should ensure the following are done:
- Build the capacity of institutional staff, learners, Boards of management and parents on the management of COVID 19.
- Ensure adequate clean running water and sanitation facilities in the institution and procure water tanks where applicable.
- Develop the protocols on hygiene and social distancing measures to be put in place before re-opening.
- Stock up the institution with key supplies including disinfectants, liquid soaps, non-touch thermometers, face masks and first aid kits.
- Collaborate with institution sponsors to ensure provision of psychosocial and spiritual services.
- Map an emergency health facility that is within 10km and collaborate with the County Government to have some health personnel assigned to the institution for regular monitoring and sensitization.
- Carry out risk assessment for suitability focusing on space, water, sanitation, provision of meals, transport of learners using the risk assessment matrix, provided by MoE and develop mitigation measures.
- Ensure compliance to guidelines for issuance of letter of compliance to the institutions.
- Communicate to parents, teachers and learners on:
- Health and safety measures
- Re-opening of the institution based on the calendar released by the ministry.
- Constitute institutional COVID19 response committee to coordinate response strategies comprising of five members, one being a learner, non-teaching staff, one BOM member and teachers.
- Ensure there is a designated room within the institution premises for use as a sick bay or for temporary isolation in case presumed cases occur in the institution.
- Ensure revision of institution rules and regulations and daily routine to be responsive to the changes occasioned by COVID 19 pandemic.
- Maintain positive demeanor on governments efforts to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
- Maintain updated bio data of all learners and contact numbers and home addresses of the parents /guardians/caregivers for ease of management of emergencies.
- Ensure that information of COVID 19 related measures is accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities, through sign language interpretation, captioning and easy read formats, among others.
- Renovate, improve, or install (as necessary) age, disability and gender appropriate hygiene facilities like washrooms, toilets and bathrooms to ease congestion.
- Develop learner’s movement protocols including designating entrances and exits for different learners’ cohorts, sectioned off common spaces and floor markings to direct foot -traffic flows.
- Clean and disinfect institution buildings, including toilets using water and disinfectants and frequently touched surfaces.
- Ensure adequate security and safety measures, including provision of a fence /barrier and guards to restrict entry to and exit from the institutional premise.
- Restrict entrance of visitors in the institution and cancel institution events such as career days and motivation days until further notice.
- Revise and adjust the institution budgets to reflect the current priorities addressing the impact of COVID 19 such as improved hygiene management.
- Identify learners, teachers and other staff with pre-existing health conditions and ensure appropriate health attention.
- Weekly progress report on the status on institution health and safety that might compromise curriculum implementation will be submitted to the Sub-County Director- Education.
- Communicate regularly, clearly and accurately information to learners and staff to ensure that they are kept informed of important developments.