- Schools are set to resume on Monday May 13, following forecasts indicating adecrease in the recent heavy rains.
- Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo said students, especially those in boarding schools, will begin their return between tomorrow and Monday.
The government is monitoring the current conditions to ensure the safe and scheduled reopening of schools next week. https://rb.gy/279cg6
Image: MINA
The government is monitoring the current conditions to ensure the safe and scheduled reopening of schools next week.
The initiative is spearheaded by National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) alongside Regional and County Directors of Education.
Schools are set to resume on Monday, May 13, following forecasts indicating a decrease in rain intensity.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo on Thursday said students, especially those in boarding schools, will begin their return between Friday and Monday.
“Despite some challenges, we have implemented measures to ensure the safe movement of students," Omollo said.
Schools in Nairobi, where many families have been displaced by floods, are undergoing necessary repairs.
Omollo said a total of 21 counties have been severely impacted, with nearly 2,000 schools affected.
“We have established adequate mechanisms to enable our students to continue their education smoothly," he stated.
Omollo was speaking at the Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma county after inspecting the progress of preparations for the upcoming Madaraka Day Celebrations to be held on June 1.
He was accompanied by the PS in charge of Performance and Delivery Management, Veronica Nduva, and her Devolution counterpart Teresia Mbaika.
Western Region Commissioner Irungu Macharia, Kibabii University Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Ipara Odeo, senior state officials from the National Celebrations Steering Committee and Bungoma County officials were also present.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on Thursday announced that the government will extend the second term to make up for time lost after a two-week reopening postponement due to floods.
Schools were to reopen for the second term on April 29 but the government put it off in the wake of heavy rainfall and devastating floods which have so far killed over 260 people.
President William Ruto this week announced that learners will resume classes Monday, May 13, based on weather forecasts indicating reduced rainfall from this weekend.
Machogu said the second term will be extended by a yet-to-be-determined period to enable schools to cover the syllabus ahead of this year's national examinations in November.
“For Form Four candidates, we will see how we can recover time lost by extending [the second term by] a few days. They were expected to close for three weeks in August and we might minimise the number of days schools will be closed,” he said.
He, however, noted that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KSCE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations will not be postponed.
“The examination calendar remains the same; KCSE and KPSEA will be taken in the normal time from November,” said Machogu.
He allayed fears of learners' safety during the school reopening, saying the government had assessed the situation and established that it is “manageable”.
“What we are getting from the experts is that we won’t have as much rain as we have had before. If anything, the situation is only improving all over the country,” Machogu said.
He said a section of schools in seven counties among them Tana River, Homa Bay and Kisumu may not re-open on Monday.
He said his ministry will explore other learning options such as relocation of learners to safer centres.