A COVID-19 task force established by Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has recommended phased resumption of face-to-face learning.

The north-Eastern part of Kenya has been for a long time managed schools without many teachers as compared to other parts. The region with about 4000 non-local teachers has seen about half of them move out of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa County since school closure in March 2020.

Al-Shabaab has been accused of trying to incite what is termed as 'religious war' between Christians and Muslims and with Kenyan state since the Kenyan Defence Forces(KDF) set foot in Somalia to battle them.

Failure by various regimes to empower the capacity of the region to train and employ local teachers can be blamed for the incapacity of enough teachers in NEP schools. It's on no doubt that since independence, the former North-Eastern Province of Kenya has remained marginalized.

Some Somali communities have been strongly blamed as well for the slow development in the region by not standing in the front row to defend non-local teachers in their midst, who play a major responsibility in shaping the children's future and the society at large.

Professor Magoha has been directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to come up with reopening strategies even as teachers remain in schools preparing for the resumption as they wait for the official reopening date and schedule to be announced by the Ministry of Education.

Re-opening schools in the North-Eastern will be challenging as the Health protocols suggest schools to have enough, clean running water, face masks, sanitizers, thermo guns and strategic handwashing Centres. Additionally, the TSC has been reluctant to post teachers in North Eastern Kenya due to apparent reasons.

Majority of learning institutions lack a stable source of water, water storage facilities. They depend on expensive water bowsers. Some schools are fenceless hence no control power over entry and exit of persons in the institution. Classes and dormitories are overcrowded and decongested. 

Most learners depend on boarding schools in the drought ravaging region where pastoralism is the norm of the day which affects attendance in schools as families migrate from one place to another between the Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenyan regions in search of water and pasture.

According to 'The Star,' Kenya's primary school Teacher-student ratio (70:1) doubles that of Ghana (30:1) and South Africa (33:1), exceeds five times that of Finland (13:1) against the government recommended ratio of 40:1. The secondary school teacher-student ratio in Kenya hung at 100:1.

Teachers Service Commission Directive To Headteachers And Principals On Teachers Requirements At Schools.

The Teachers Service Commission pronounced that teachers report to their schools on 28th of September 2020 and which teachers have complied to. The following is expected:

A staff meeting is carried out to discuss the implementation of the following:

(a). Strategies on the school reopening.
(b). Cleaning and establishing a conducive schooling setting.
(c). Timetables preparation.
(d). Schemes of work preparations.
(e). Working on TPADs.
(f). Reworking on the TMIS update.
(g). Formulating a psycho-social support system ( reinforcing the Guidance & Counseling Committee)
(h). Put programs on the compliance of the Ministry Of Health safety protocols:-
(a.) Availability of enough running water/hand washing points

•  Social distancing Maintenance.
• The setting of the Isolation room
• Set up Disaster management systems.

NB: 
Establishment of a COVID-19 Disaster Management Committee is mandatory to all schools.

Visitors from the Ministry of Education will be walking in learning institutions anytime surveying the level of Schools Preparedness for reopening. 

All School Heads are required to stay in their schools.
Permission to be absent from school must be sorted out by writing from the TSC-CD

Pursuant to the Presidential order issued at the 12th Presidential Address to the Nation on the Covid-19 Pandemic which was delivered by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta on 28th of Sept 2020, and following broad-based stakeholder conference, the Ministry of Education informs the country that the advanced re-opening of learning Institutions will start with the reopening of tertiary institutions and universities as from next week on Monday, 5th 2020 October.

The specifics of the same are as follows:

1. The examination lessons of Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will report on Monday, 5th October 2020;

II. TVETs and TTCs boards will declare openly the in-person learning resumption date for other classes, with students pursuing practical courses;
priority being accorded to 

III. Final Year Students in all Universities and their Constituent Colleges will report on Monday, 5th October 2020; and
IV. The respective University Councils and their Senates will announce the date for resumption of in-person learning for
students in other academic classes, with priority being accorded to those undertaking science-based courses.

Safe resumption of in-person learning in all Universities and Tertiary Institutions requires utmost fidelity to the Ministry of Health's
COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. 

Guided by those protocols and
guidelines, it is directed THAT:

1. All learning institutions will be required to mandatorily enforce strict adherence to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which include; monitoring of the body temperature for all learners and all other persons accessing the institutions, observance of high levels of hygiene, handwashing/use of sanitizers, and the adoption of innovative approaches to uphold the guidelines on physical and social distancing and the use of face masks/shields;

2. All Universities and tertiary institutions that had been designated as quarantine centres shall be fumigated under the supervision of the Ministry of Health prior to their re-opening;

All universities and tertiary institutions must be linked to a health facility prior to being reopened;

All teaming institutions shall provide psychosocial and spiritual support to teamers and staff during the subsistence of the current pandemic; Councils/Boards and

Vice-Chancellors/principals shall ensure full
compliance with the guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health; failure to which their respective institutions will be closed for breaching those health protocols and
guidelines; and

Education officials, in conjunction with public health officials, will continuously monitor and review the terms of compliance with respect to the aforementioned measures.

Teachers reported to school yesterday for the preparation of learning across the country. President Uhuru Kenyatta has indicated that schools will only reopen when safety measures are met. 

In Moi Avenue Primary School in Kenya's capital Nairobi, teachers reported very early in the morning and held a meeting with their school head.

In most schools, all Teachers employed by TSC have already reported. Jamhuri High School in Ngara and other schools visited by Teachers Updates revealed the same situation that teachers were ready for resumption. 

But teachers will have to remain in schools until health protocol measures are met to guarantee learners safety. Financial difficulties seem to be the major hindrance for quicker preparations.

President Uhuru while addressing the Nation on 28th of September at KICC, noted that the health of our children will not be negotiated insisting that safety measures be put in place first before learning resumes. 

Whether the government is considering a phased reopening where form three, four and standard seven and eight will be allowed to report first as recommended by the Taskforce, depends on the Education CS Magoha who has been tasked to come up with a reopening strategy. 

Professor Magoha was ordered back to the drawing board as it happened that President Uhuru Kenyatta was not persuaded by the reopening details. The head of state asked the nation to focus on how schools will reopen instead of when. 

 In most schools dusting and cleaning has been going on as teachers volunteer to make it possible for early reopening. Some schools had been converted into cowsheds, grazing fields by locals with chicken and livestock occupying learners' space in classrooms.

As it seems another stakeholder meeting has to take place for the formulation of the academic calendar as directed by President Kenyatta and to review the reopening measures but for teachers.

COVID-19 national conference kicked off today at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). President Uhuru Kenyatta presided the event whose main purpose was to look at the effects caused by the pandemic and to chat the way forward for the nation. 

In attendance were the Cabinet Secretaries, stakeholders and senior government officials such as included the clergy, technocrats among others.

He called on all Kenyans to be realistic and keenly evaluate the measures put in place and see if they are effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe urged Kenyans to embrace the new usual because the virus will be around for long noting that it has taken hard work and it proceeds to be hard work.

President Kenyatta noted that the Covid-19 cases have reduced from 13 per cent in June to 4 per cent in September which meets the World Health condition for reopening.

REOPENING OF SCHOOL AND BARS.

President Kenyatta said that school reopening will only take place when the Covid-19 Protocols have been met adding that the health matters of our children is not a matter of debate. 

He called on the CS for Education CS Magoha to come out with a plan on how schools will reopen noting that until all that is achieved, Kenyans will have to wait longer. 

On Reopening of schools and bars and the decision on the fate of crowd gatherings which were banned since March despite politicians defying it president Kenyatta noted that bars will be reopened. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that schools remain closed and will only re-open in a manner that protects the health and well-being of learners.

He further authorized Education CS Magoha to issue a calendar for the 2022 academic year or if it will be pushed to 2021 

LOCKDOWN AND THE NATIONAL CURFEW

On whether the partial lockdown and curfew should be lifted, the President noted that the curfew will be extended for a further 60 days. 

However, the curfew will run from 11 pm to 4 am. 
Gathering increased to one-third of the normal gathering. 

FUNERAL AND WEDDING ATTENDANCE 

Funeral and wedding attendant capacity increased from 100 to 200 persons in adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

The conference came in the wake of high expectations from Kenyans that some of the restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus will be lifted to pave way for a full resumption of the economy.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Today Kenya has recorded 53 new Covid-19 cases out of 1,107 tested samples in the last 24 hours, Kenya's caseload now 38,168.

Sixty more recoveries have been reported today bringing a total number of 24,681 recovery cases. Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has announced that out of the 60 reported cases, 36 victims were at home and 24 in health centres.

Death toll in Kenya now stands at 700 as 9 extra patients have died.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has threatened to take severe punitive measures to teachers who decline to avail themselves to schools by the end of today, 28th September 2020.

Monday 28th was set by TSC and the Ministry of Education as the deadline for teachers reporting.
TSC boss Dr Nancy Macharia warned on 21st that teachers who won't report by the end of today will face dire consequences.

The Education Sub-County Directors (SDEs) have notified teachers that disregarding Teachers Service Commission's directive to report today amounts to absconding duty which is a punishable offence by the TSC rules and regulations.

"Teachers will not be allowed to ask for a day off, they must all report today and on subsequent days for the tasks directed by the Ministry of Education to run smoothly," read part of a memo.

Absconding of duty has been dealt with before by removal of teachers from payrolls. Most of those who have faced such disciplinary action are those found engaging in demonstrations and strikes.

Teachers are expected to prepare measures set by the ministry of education for the school reopening. Regional directors, Sub-county Directors of Education and county Directors of education will coordinate reopening preparations upon teachers arrival.

President Kenyatta is expected to conduct a Covid-19 National conference today that will chart the way forward for the nation after six months of coronavirus pandemic. The fate of students whose right to education has been affected by the pandemic will also be assessed.

The Teachers' Service Commission (TSC)  directed teachers to avail themselves in school by 28th of Monday ahead of the school reopening date which shall be announced soon. 

However, some teachers are still confused as to whether to report to school tomorrow or wait for learners to report first. This group of teachers include those employed by the Boards of Management (Bom) and those serving as interns.

The Teachers' Service Commission announced that only permanently employed teachers are to report on Monday to prepare for the resumption of studies. The gap remains in some public schools where the majority of teaching staff is made by the BOM teachers and interns whose contracts end in a few months time. 

The Board of Management teachers and the intern teachers will be battling out to be recruited to the recently advertised jobs as from Monday 28. Some will be replacing teachers who left the job due to various circumstances. 

Most of the teachers who applied for the TSC advertised jobs are yet to receive their interview invitations. It is true that some in some schools, the number of BOM teachers surpass that of TSC employed teachers. 

It is common sense, that this group of teachers won't report to school unless they are sure of their interview outcome in a few days ahead, but the question as to whether enough teachers will report to school on Monday remains to be seen.

The Ministry of Education has maintained that schools will only reopen if the COVID-19 protocols are met and the cCOVID19 curve flattens.

For the Ministry of Education and TSC to achieve its the target, they need to address these issues as soon as possible as failure to do so might delay the reopening date for students.

Education CS Professor George Magoha has cautioned school heads against fraud, unaccountability and imperious increase of school fees ahead of schools re-opening.

Parents have been expressing their fear over concerns that some learning institutions could take advantage of the situation to increase fees.

Some parents claim that they lost their jobs during this coronavirus period while others claim that their income was slashed and they are not financially ready for school reopening.

The Education CS instructed headteachers and principals to consult the Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) before altering the current school fee structure.

Prof Magoha gave the warning just some hours before teachers start reporting back to school in preparation for the resumption of study. He noted that most of the learning institutions lack accountability and are prone to corruption.

He stated that it was illegal and unlawful for school heads to arbitrarily charge excessive fees, especially during this difficult moment.

Professor Magoha was speaking at Kwale Teachers’ Training College in Kinango sub-county on Friday when he issued an Sh50 million cheque project gift from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

His statements we're from a reply to Governor Salim Mvurya of Kwale County and his deputy governor Fatuma Achani who had complained to the minister that Kwale county was funding 4,800 learners in national schools which have been annually increasing fees.

Governor Salim Mvurya urged the professor to intercede noting that some school heads have been undermining Kwale county's Ksh400 million bursary programme through fee hiking.

“We develop our bursary programme based on the official government fees structures, anything besides that can attract audit queries,” Deputy governor Achan said adding that it was a dilemma for the learners on a full bursary.

Professor Magoha guaranteed the heads of counties that the Ksh1.9 billion school-desks programme would support the jua kali artisans across the country.

CAS Zack Kinuthia has finally responded to The Board Of Management (BOM) Teachers Dilemma Ahead Of School Reopening. The BOM teachers have continued to suffer as a good number of them are yet to receive their money. 

Some school heads claim that money has not hit their school accounts while in some institutions, half of the BOM teachers were paid while the others were left out. 

Some of the Board of Management teachers have accused their school principals of paying 'cat and mouse' games with their money. "Some principals are very evil… They received the money two weeks ago and are still doing nothing to pay bom teachers." Sammy Ochiel said. 

In response to the situation, CAS Zachary Kinuthia alias Son of the Soil has said that the two captions of BOM Teachers, the paid ones and the non paid are both right, noting that while the paid ones were grateful, the unpaid ones continued to suffer. 

" Those who are yet to be paid will need to do the following. Write to or Call Your Heads. If the Head has not yet received the money, the Head should write to the Sub County Director of Education. SCDE will escalate all the way to us. From here, I will act through the Line State Department." Said CAS Kinuthia. 

While admitting that the unpaid teachers were suffering, CAS Kinuthia asked the non paid teachers not to lose their calmness as things were not yet out of hands. He also asked teachers to stop attacking him privately because he had done nothing wrong in this matter but trying to fix the issue. 

"Don't lose your calm yet. And don't Insult me privately. I am not GUILTY. I am not the Arsonist. I am trying to put off the fire for you. You're badly affected," said Zackary Kinuthia. 

Technical institutes and primary schools teachers under the Ministry of Education also continue to complain about being ignored by the Government. "Didn't you consider their BOM teachers also, are they not equally important as those in secondary schools?" Patrick Msafiri asked.