Schools Could Resume in November if measures Are Met – Magoha
Education CS George Magoha has announced that at least 3 technical and vocational colleges are ready to resume studies in accordance to the Covid-19 protocols while the rest TVET institutions he said were implementing the coronavirus precaution measures very slowly.
He revealed that a few schools may resume in November and the Education ministry will start training the heads of learning institutions on health protocols tomorrow for readiness to resume studies. The information going round at the Ministry of Education is that schools may be reopened in phases by November 2020, to allow for 4 and class 8 candidates prepare for their national examination.
According to Professor George Magoha, only the Rift Valley Institute, Nyeri Polytechnic and Eldoret Polytechnic are ready for the resumption of learning. He said they are the only institutions he has visited and found to be compliant with the Covid-19 measures while other 5 learning institutions seem to have improved.
He revealed that about half of the learning institutions are on a trajectory towards resumption. He, however, expressed his disappointment with how slowly TVET principals were implementing the measures even in the sith week since he started the touring of schools adding that students will sit for the examination once proper things are done.
He urged institutions to make sure that no one gets into the learnings institution's facilities without hands sanitization and at putting someone in charge of ensuring social distancing is adhered to in dining areas or at least change the dining tables arrangements.
Training for county, sub-county and regional directors for Education begun on Monday last week. Elyas Abdi, the Education Director-General has been in charge of the virtual training. Officials from the Ministry of Education have been inspecting the training across the country. The training is also meant to include principals of colleges in Kenya.
More teachers will undergo the training before the end of this month. Training for education officials in Western region begun on three days ago while the Nyanza regional training for the officials will kick off tomorrow.
According to the Covid-19 protocols, principals and headteachers are mandated to ensure that their institutions have adequate, clean and running water as well as sanitization points. Procurement of water tanks before reopen is needed. It is also their responsibility to ensure social distancing and cleanliness in the institutions.
Learners below 9 years are expected to be escorted by their class teachers every morning from the school entrance and to the exit after school to avoid careless entry of outsiders.
Co-curricular events such as drama festivals and games will be suspended to avoid overcrowding of students. Only prayer assemblies in classes for prayers and announcements will be allowed. Head of schools is mandated to renovate toilets and washrooms as well as to reduce congestion.
Every learning institution must form a committee for the Covid-19 response which should include learners, trainees and non-teaching staffs. The committee should not exceed 5 members.
KUPPET secretary-general Akelo Misori has asked the Ministry of Education to release funds to schools to ensure early preparations are done. The funds which were announced by the CS Magoha to have been released are yet to reflect in the accounts of learning institutions.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers now wants the Ministry of Education to release a circular that indicates how funds will be provided.
