Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha announced Monday that all schools will reopen on January 4, as Kenya continues taking cautious steps in its return to normalcy. – By Enock Mukoma
The new directive will apply to all continuing PP1 & 2; Grade 1, 2 and 3; Class 5, 6 and 7; and Form 1, 2 and 3 learners, Magoha said on Monday.
Pre Primary 1 & 2; Grade 1, 2 & 3; Class 5, 6 & 7; and Form 1, 2 & 3 learners will start their Term 2 on 4th January, 2021 and end on March 19th together with the Grade 4 and candidate classes (Class 8 and Form 4).
Magoha said that all learners, except Class 8 and Form 4 candidates, will proceed for a 7-week holiday to allow for KCPE and KCSE examinations administration and marking.
The Cabinet Secretary told a press conference in Nairobi that International schools will reopen from January 4th 2021 for all learners still at home.
He also announced that four-year-old children will join pre-primary one in July.
CS Magoha said schools are the safest environment for learners, even as the Covid-19 infection rate continues to surge.
“I wish to assure the country that the Government is determined to ensure a safe reopening and learning of our schools. In doing so, we are drawing important lessons from the partial reopening that has taken place since October,” he said.
“We are confident that we will remain on the right trajectory to finding the winning formula that will ensure our learning institutions are safe for our learners and teachers. “
Apparently the Teachers Service Commission has urged teachers aged 58 and above and those with pre-existing health conditions to work from home.
“As this is a presidential directive, your employers will not sack you. The TSC has negotiated for teachers to be covered for Covid-19-related illnesses,” Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia told the press conference.
