In Summary:
- Children in schools who fall sick should not be handled by teachers, teachers are good at imparting knowledge & the curriculum, the chair noted. – Kesha chair Indimuli.
- TSC should do more of protection than waiting for teachers to be affected to be covered. Pamela Odhiambo, Woman Rep, Migori
- Medical problems should be dealt with by medical practitioners. Teachers cannot be the ones looking after health needs. Dr Njoki Fernandes, Health and Safety Expert
- We have not done many tests in private schools.- KPSA chair Peter Ndoro.
Education stakeholders have warned that teachers are not the ones to look at the health of learners in schools considering the many tasks they handle. Further, they call upon safety measures be put in place to ensure the safety of all individuals in the school setting.
“Social distancing is something we will not have achieved as a country by January. Parliamentarians can look for more funds to give the Ministry of Education so that they can fund schools to ensure COVID-19 measures are in place.” KESSHA chair Indimuli Kahi, said.
He added that Putting COVID-19 measures in place requires finances & schools had to look for partners. Children in schools who fall sick should not be handled by teachers, teachers are good at imparting knowledge & the curriculum, the chair noted.
“We may not have the exact number of teachers & students affected by COVID-19, as we are getting the data like everybody else once testing has been done. The Ministry of health should put medical officers in schools.” He noted.
Pamela Odhiambo, Woman Rep, Migori noted that water issues are a devolved function and Governors should ensure there is a budget for supplying water not only in homes but also in institutions. She insisted that the Ministry of health should help ensure there are enough supplies in facilities near the school.
“TSC should do more of protection than waiting for teachers to be affected to be covered. People in Migori seem to be living in denial as though the disease does not exist.” Said the Migori woman rep.
Dr Njoki Fernandes, Health and Safety Expert supported Mr Indimuli by stating that Medical problems should be dealt with by medical practitioners. Dr Fernandes said Teachers have such an ambitious timetable, to teach, cover the syllabus and give exams, and therefore, “they cannot then still be the ones looking after health needs.”
“This is flu affecting the whole world, not just Kenya. We will be having spikes & drops, ups & downs. We cannot keep our children home forever, but this was expected. It will keep coming & going until we get a vaccine.” Said Dr Fernandes.
Peter Ndoro, CEO, Kenya Private Schools Association, (PSA) noted that Private schools have had a lot of challenges, but have so far not reported major cases of COVID-19 in the institutions. “That is not to say we do not have COVID-19 in schools. We have not done many tests in private schools.”
