Following pressure from incidences of school strikes, the Ministry of Education has ordered all secondary schools to close in two weeks.
School principals were told to close classrooms for half-term on Friday, November 19, in a statement dated Monday, November 1.
The circular, which was sent to all regional and county superintendents of education, also stated that schools would reopen after a 5-day break on Tuesday, November 23.
"It has been decided that the half term break will commence on Friday, November 19, 2021. The students will report back on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.
Education Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan signed the circular, which was also shared with Education CS Prof George Magoha.
The order came only hours after teachers from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and school heads affiliated with the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) urged the government to take a short vacation.
KESSHA chair Indimuli Kahi told the press that the organization has written to the Ministry of Education, demanding a break for all schools and campaigning for the restoration of extracurricular activities.
It was also discovered that the students’ insurrection was sparked by the Ministry’s make-up program, which was implemented to compensate for the 10 months of absence.
*This article was written by Gerald Gekara for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
