Kenyan government through ICT Cabinet Secretary Dr Joe Mucheru is scheming to spend Sh15 billion to enable learning institutions to teach at least 4 subjects online. 

The CS revealed plans to steer a programme that would boost digital learning. Mr Mucheru who appeared before the Senate ICT Committee to reply to questions on the digital literacy programme and broadband to the learning institution project. He explained that the government aims at empowering learners with customised gadgets to support digital learning.

He noted that The tools will be developed in association with local universities where funds from the government's partnership with Unicef would be used to put infrastructure such as the construction of ICT labs, fibre optic cables, training learners, electricity connection, purchasing tablets as well as training teachers.

The Digital Learning Project is said to be a component of the government's plan to enable learners from poor background families in public schools to get computer knowledge and skills from a young age.

But the state named the inaccessibility of electricity as one of the major problems they were facing in implementing the project. Dilapidated classes, we're also mentioned as a challenge together with the limited computer skills by teachers.

According to Gadgets Africa, the delay of implementation of this detail opposition from the stakeholders who insist that the government should construct computer laboratories instead of issuing each learner with one tablet. This comes at a period when schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha said that the coronavirus curve is flattening and therefore so learners should be preparing to go back to school. 

Speaking in Homa Bay County while evaluating Mawego Technical Training Institute, Rachuonyo North Subcounty, the EducationCabinet Secretary announced that the government will next week give advice to the country on when to reopen schools.

The CS announced on Friday that schools may re-open soon. He noted that the Ministry and the government are observing the system before the stakeholders meeting then they will decide when learning institutions will reopen. 

"We will then take the final report to another layer of government which I shall not mention,” he announced, in obvious relation to the President.” Magoha's statement comes at a time when Kenya continues to report decreased infection rates.

The number of coronavirus infections increased by exactly 148 on Friday whereby 40 out of 2,438 reported cases came from Mombasa County, amounting to a total number of thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and twenty-four announced cases in Kenya’s cumulative number of 36,724 declared infection cases.
 
The number of cases rose by 4, giving rise to the total number of lives lost to the virus to about 646. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that 98 victims had recovered,  52 in hospital and 46 in the home-based care programme, bringing up the total to 23,709.

CS Magoha said that although he was not speaking on behalf of the Health Ministry, he can authoritatively note that the Covid-19 curve is flattening. "Let teachers prepare to go back to school so that pupils can resume learning as soon as possible,” he said.

The National administration has already allocated KSh1.9 billion for desks, lockers and chairs to be delivered to learning institutions by the end of October this year.

Quality concerns for the KSh1.9 bi secondary and primary school desks and lockers have developed as search for carpenters and identification of learning institutions start to intense.

According to school heads, the determination to use block wood rather than solid wood will probably affect the frame life of the desks and lockers which are to be distributed to school before the 19th of October.

The heads are questioning the decision of making cheaper block wood desks and lockers which need proper maintenance as they are likely to be damaged by drastic weather conditions in various parts of the country.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) national Chair Mr Kahi Indimuli noted that solid wood has a higher shelf life and suit well with different situations in learning institutions.

Some school teachers and principals who spoke to Teachers Updates revealed that managing of these lockers and desks in most learning institutions is a big challenge as they are sometimes left out in the sun and get rained on.

According to The Standard, best quality solid-wood lockers costs around 5,000 Kenyan shillings in the market but queries continue to emerge as to why the government would recommend cheaper lockers and desks which are made of materials that cannot last.

The Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha explained that each desk will amount to Sh2,500 for primary schools and Ksh3,800 for secondary school chairs and lockers. About 622,000 desks, chairs and lockers will be assembled and distributed to 30 learning institutions in every county.

Primary School that will be selected will obtain 70 desks while each secondary school that will benefit will get at least 50 of them. Plans are underway to assign schools that will benefit from the 1.9 billion projects. Schools that stand a better chance of benefiting are highly populated schools.

Learning institutions that benefit from donor support such as CDF or well-wishers and are not registered won't be considered in this project. 

Deputy County Commissioners are expected to oversee their teams in ascertaining the quality of the desks, chairs and lockers and observance with the specification of the prototypes.

According to Education CS Magoha, the state has established numerous risk mitigation policies to prevent fraud in the project. The CS noted that the desks will be locally made by local artisans or SMEs (small & medium-sized enterprises) in Juakali workshops.

The flamboyant Embakasi East Member of Parliament has today cancelled the BOM demonstrations that were set to kick off tomorrow on Thursday to compel the Ministry of Education to disburse money meant for BOM teachers as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta. 

Babu's decision was as a result of information that the BOM teachers had started receiving money in their accounts. On his official Facebook Page, Babu posted;

"I want to take this opportunity to congratulate BOM Teachers for receiving money and warn the government to act with speed next time and pay Teachers on time. My regret is that the demonstrations will not take place tomorrow as planned."

Nonetheless, some teachers complain that they have not received the money yet but most of them are optimistic that money will reach them at the course of the week. Last week the Nairobian MP strongly demanded Education CS Magoha to release the funds.

“The CS Education George Magoha MUST pay the BOM Teacher ASAP. The Government has screwed up teachers and this is causing Consternation and pandemonium among them. Failure to pay will lead to an action which is better imagined than experienced,” read his statement.

Some teachers saluted the youthful Parliamentarian for standing out with teachers, unlike other politicians who remained mum while the Board of Management teachers were suffering. 

Some accused Babu of seeking political mileage while others made fun due to the 'white smoke.' effect.

"Next time let's Demonstrate early enough before they pay so that we can enjoy both money and calming the violent police" Joash Atulo posted. 

Education Cabinet Secretary Magoha has transferred more than 51 college principals in an enormous shake-up that is set to transform the Kenyan technical institutions.
The majority of the transferred principals are said to have poorly managed the resources or have been incapable of innovating and mentoring their junior institutions. 

Some are said to have been transferred over prudent management of funds and continuous run-ins with the learning institutions’ boards. Others have been shifted to convert sleeping institutions with improvement capabilities but have failed to revamp due to poor leadership and management.

The Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) principal, Dr Edwin Tarno, has been shifted to manage the Kenya Technical Training College (KTTC) in Nairobi while principal Sammy Waititu, of PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute, has been pushed to Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

Siaya Institute of Technology principal John Odhiambo will now head the Kabete National Polytechnic while the Sigalagala National Polytechnic principal Catherine Kelonye will be taking over the principal role at the Kisumu National Polytechnic. Keroka Technical Teaching Training Institute Evans Omwenga Bosire has been moved to Sigalagala. 

The Wote TTI will be lead by Mary Mwende of the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic. Mary Mwende, the head of Kenya Coast National Polytechnic has been transferred to Wote TTI. Anne Mbogo, the principal of Kiirua TTI, has been moved to the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic.

Some familiar sources disclosed that a few principals are not in agreeable terms with the transfers as they try to pursue political interventions to maintain ranks in their institutions. The TVET Principal Secretary Julius Jwan noted that it is normal for the government to do the deployments as the delivery of service.

Julius Jwan blamed some principals transferred from the Teachers Service Commission(TSC) of some of the principals who were deployed from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have been derailing to mould training to correspond to national goals.

He said that TVET was on leadership transformation in order to improve the college's income generation adding that the achievement of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) relies on a well-structured TVET since over 60% of the learners will be enrolled in these learning institutions with the proper attitude and expectations.

Julius Jwan noted that TVETs have a ripple effect on 
Jwan said proper leadership of TVETs is critical as it has a ripple effect on employment opportunities and therefore proper leadership was needed. 

World Bank 2018 Research indicates that over three-thirds of future jobs will compel workers to have technical skills more than theoretical knowledge. Mr Julius noted that TVETs are the most empirical avenue for developing readily employable mastery of skills for the youth.

The permanent secretary said that blueprint they have set on will define TVET as a satisfactory pathway with the role of each player defined.

Education stakeholders have advised the Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha to continue with caution in his schools reopening plans during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Magoha noted on Monday that learning institutions may resume learning earlier than the original plan of 1st January 2020, following a recent drop in coronavirus infection cases. 

The Kenya Secondary Schools Association chairperson Mr Kahi Indimuli noted that for about six months of the COVID-19 pandemic period, safety protocols have not been achieved to guarantee the reopening of schools.

Mr Indimuli says the I preparedness of learning institutions especially public schools is due to lack of enough space to meet the 1.5-meter social distance rule.

He argues that learning institutions are stranded in their COVID-19Covid-19 precaution measures as they lack enough funds and resources to adjust their settings.

Mr Kahi believes that schools are still in the situation in which they were before the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March adding that the school heads don't know what to do.

The Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) claims that the government has not done enough in preparing learners or welcome them back to class.

Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association chairman Mr Nicholas Gathemia noted that learning institutions have not yet received money for safety improvements adding that the salary situation non-teaching staff has financially paralysed the school's financial capabilities.

Mr Gathemia noted that it was very unfair to engage someone in work without paying them as it amounts to the human rights violation.

The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) head of Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) Dr Loice Ombajo warned that resumption of learning without proper precaution measures in place could hurt efforts of flattening the coronavirus infection curve.

Dr Ombaji noted that safely reopening of schools is possible in a low coronavirus infection rate scenario and only when precaution measures have been considerably put in place.

The Kenyan medics have advised of face-to-face resumption of learning if only health protocols have been met to avoid the virus spreading among learners, teachers and non-teaching staff. Tanzania which was the first East African country to reopen schools declared that it was free from COVID-19.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) data illustrates that at least thirty per cent of teachers in primary basic learning institutions are above the age of fifty(50) years of age hence stands a higher chances getting infected by the Covid-19 virus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) which warned that continued school closure could lead to a serious negative impact on the children's future proposes a threshold of less than 5 per cent new positive infections rate suitable condition for reopening consideration. 

The Kenyan infection rate has currently dropped to less than 10 per cent according to last week's statistics.

Talks with various heads of the higher learning institutions have disclosed universities and colleges had attained a high standard of preparedness, to ensure the resumption of studies.

The University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Stephen Kiama asserted that the university had improved the health precaution measures to guarantee adherence to the ministry's guidelines upon reopening of studies.

The University of Nairobi (UoN) explained that it will be governed by instructions from the Education and Health ministries, thereafter the institution senate will have a meeting to endorse the determination and establish the exact re-opening date.

The UoN Corporate Affairs Director John Orindi told People Daily that no protocols have been received yet, but the university was going on with their activities involving virtual learning and that would continue until further notice.

Orinda noted that the university had embraced phased re-opening, beginning with final-year medical students as the institution examines behavioural trends.

Once allowed to go on with on-campus learning, the university'senate will meet to determine numerous considerations in regards to the available space and resources.0000

The Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC) Principal Hilda Omwoyo detailed that the has had promising progress in preparation for the resumption of on-course learning adding that the institution was improving the safety measures of its tutors and students.

The principal, however, did not reveal their re-opening date explaining that they were waiting for directions from the ministry of education. The KTTC already has installed water various points and produced enough sanitisers via it'science department as they promise to ensure that the social distancing idea is reinforced.

Just like the KTTC, Mount Kenya University (MKU) examined the institution and allocated a decent bill of health. MKU officials said they were ready to resume noting that the Ministry of Education has already declared the institution fit for the resumption of on-course learning.

Pwani University in Kilifi has re-affirmed their readiness for phased re-opening while adhering to the coronavirus guidelines. Me Rajab said that priority will be given to 4th-year students in the gradual reopening students since some learning such as Teaching Practice cannot be done online.

Mohamed Rajab the Pwani University Vice-Chancellor
said that the university had made considerable adjustments at the hostels by reducing the accommodation of 4 students to 2 per cubicle to guarantee social distancing upon resumption. 

Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) Vice-Chancellor Laila Abubakar explained that the institution has already been evaluated and the ministry of Education is delighted with their preparations.

Prof Abubakar noted that the university's Senate will meet at end of this week, to discuss any matter that is pending. He revealed that the 1.5-metre rule has already been marked in lecture halls and the student's capacity in hostels reduced for decongestion.

 
The government released money for the payment of Board of Management teachers and up to now, most teachers say that they have not been paid. The Ministry of Education has been insisting that money was approved 6 weeks ago. 

Appearing live on television interview yesterday, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion said that the assurance of Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha had put the case to rest.

Sossion said that he was convinced that the BOM teachers will be paid and the matter should not be an issue of debate or contestation. However, Sossion did not tell how much sooner the money will reach the teachers.

The memberbofv0arliament remarked that the procedures of issuing the money were in place and that the government was committed to ensuring that the teachers would be paid.

On the school reopening, KNUT SG said that parents should be prepared to have their children back to school at all times. He pointed out that if the curve flattens for more than 14 days there will be no reason for children to stay at home.

Sossion said that children should be prepared to go back to school because the minister of Education has done a lot to ensure that schools and learning institutions are prepared for reopening.

He questioned why Kenyans were not seeing the hardworking efforts by Mr Magoha, citing that the minister has been walking and consulting stakeholders, looking and applying their minds positively on what is best to do with the current situation. He called for the Board of Management and teachers to warm up the resumption of learning.

Me Sossion saluted the president of Kenya for being kind pointing out that unlike other governments where schools have been forced to reopen, Kenya has been allowed to debate democratically within the education sector on the basis of the Ministry of Health guidelines. 

Sossion congratulated the Health ministry for being honest with the Covid-19 information and converging their data to a very factual situation.

Board of Management teachers has threatened to hold devolved mega demonstrations this week on Thursday to compel the ministry to release the money into their accounts. Led by Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino and other young Parliamentarians, BOM teachers hopes that the Ministry will hear their cry.

Money Was Credited To Teachers Accounts

Kahi Indimuli who is the Chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association said that Board of Management money was credited to the bank yesterday on Monday and there might be some delay due to differences in banks.

He said that all teachers will get their money within the week. 

BOM Teachers are now planning to hold devolved demonstrations across the country to demand their payments. Board of Management teachers has gone for over five months now without payments even after President Kenyatta's directive that they are cushioned. 

For over two weeks now these teachers have been expecting to be paid only to be thrown right, left and centre by the Ministry of Education. A few weeks ago Professor George Magoha said that all BOM teachers had been paid only for teachers to protest later on social media that their accounts were empty. 

Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia, later promised that money would have been paid by last week on Friday but all was not right as the week ended with empty accounts. These teachers have been complaining of life difficulties as they have bills to pay and families to take care of. 

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Hon Babu Owino together with the Samburu East MP and others on Friday warned that should BOM teachers not receive their money then Teachers will have to go to the street to demand what's duly theirs. 

Today Education CS Magoha has revealed that all bonafide BOM teachers should have been paid by now. He said that all was done six weeks ago but according to BOM teachers who spoke to Teachers Updates confirmed that no money has been channelled to their accounts by today evening. 

Babu Owino who promised to lead teachers to demonstrate has now announced that the demonstrations will take place on Thursday from 6.00 am to 11.00 pm. Through his Facebook wall, Babu has called all BOM teachers to attend to the Demos according to the directive that he will announce on Wednesday this week. 

"Further direction on how to conduct the demos will be given on Wednesday during my press release at 10 am. We are begging the police to have enough Teargas and Rungus. Teargas pills 💊 will be provided. #NoTurningBack."