In Summary
- Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has instituted a ban on unapproved rallies and meetings held in schools to protect teachers and learners.
- Turkana County Executive for Health and Sanitation Jane Ajele said that 5 students and 2 teachers tested positive for Covid-19.
- The CS also banned students from going to schools with sanitisers in large quantities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has instituted a ban on unapproved rallies and meetings held in schools. In a statement sent to newsrooms on Saturday, Magoha said the reason for such an action is to avoid exposing learners to COVID-19.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Education that various groups of people are targeting schools as venues for holdingunauthorised meetings,” said the CS.
“By holding the meetings at the school facilities, the groups are exposing learners to the dangers of COVID-19 as many of the attendees do not comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines on COVID- 19.”
Prof. Magoha said that, henceforth, school compounds will not be used by individuals or groups seeking to hold such meetings. He warned that firm action will be taken upon individuals or groups found to be flouting
the ban.
“The Ministry is, therefore, notifying all Kenyans that school compounds and facilities are out of bounds and cannot be used to host unauthorised meetings,” he stated.
“Let us all allow our learners to progress with their normal activities without exposing them to dangers of COVID-19.”
Teachers, Students Test Positive
This comes barely a few days after five students and two teachers from St. Claire Lokitaung Girls in Turkana County tested positive for Covid-19.
Turkana County Executive for Health and Sanitation Mrs Jane Ajele confirmed the new infections.
“On 27 May 2021, one of the students from St. Claire Lokitaung Girls visited Lodwar County Referral Hospital to seek medical care. She was complaining of joint pains. She was tested for Covid-19 and she turned positive,” Ajele said.
Ajele stated that the contact tracing was immediately done at the school and fifteen individuals including students, teachers and school workers were tested.
“When the tests were done, out of nine students tested, five students tested positive for Covid-19 while out of the five teachers tested, two turned positive,” she said.
She said the infected learners and teachers are receiving treatment through home-based care based in Lokitaung.
The schools reopened in January after a seven-month break. During this time, the Ministry banned journalists, parents and any visitors to the schools.
Magoha stated that journalists would only be allowed in schools with permission from the Ministry of Education unlike before where they sought the authority of school heads.
The CS also banned students from going to schools with sanitisers in large quantities. He argued that some may use them for unintended purposes.
“This situation where some teachers are asking children to buy sanitisers in large quantities and take to schools shall not be allowed.
“Out of the 16 million children we have, maybe 50 of them are erratic in thinking. You do not want to give them a situation in which you bring so much liquid sanitisers to the school which they will use for other things,” stated Magoha.
He also noted that no student will be admitted to school without a face mask. Currently, students are on a mid-term break and are expected back on Monday, June 7.
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