This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
Kenya: Reality in Schools Dampens September Opening ¶
As the country awaits a new academic calendar, the harsh reality on the ground suggests that what Kenya might get is a timetable for ensuring all necessary protocols are in place for possible reopening next year, depending on the Covid-19 curve.
On March 15, schools were shut to protect learners from Covid-19, which has so far infected 2,989 Kenyans and killed 88. The infection rate has accelerated with increased testing, prompting the government to completely phase out the second term, which was to begin on May 4, and push it to September when the third term ought to begin.
According to an epidemiologist in the Health ministry, who cannot be named because he is not authorized to share his views on the virus with the public, "We really have to have a consistent downward trend of the infection rate for a period of two to three weeks to ensure we are overcoming the virus. We need to be almost 100 per cent confident the curve is flattening before we can reopen social places like schools."
However, the conditions in schools present the ideal environment for a new surge of infections. One of the biggest challenges the government will have to grapple with, if the schools are to reopen, is ensuring all schools have running water. The UN classified Kenya as a water-scarce country with a low natural replenishment rate, saying, about 41 per cent of Kenyans depend on ponds, shallow wells, and rivers.
According to Water.org, only nine out of 55 public water service providers in Kenya have continuous supply. This means that a majority of public schools in urban and rural areas do not have clean water. Worst hit are those in informal settlements.
Between now and September, the government cannot provide clean water to these institutions, so it would have to put in place a consistent and sufficient supply of hand sanitizers. With about 31,000 primary schools, 8,000 secondary schools, 600,000 in universities, and another 200,000 in technical and vocational institutions, that would be an uphill task.
Additionally, the government would have to put in place a steady supply of face masks for everyone in learning institutions, preferably washable ones that can be used and reused for extended periods. It would also have to test all these individuals regularly for Covid-19.
The basic education sector is grappling with a severe teacher shortage of about 130,000. Secondary schools have a shortfall of about 100,000, while about 35,000 are needed for the primary section. This means that the teacher to learner ratio is 1:60 in some schools instead of around 1:40.
With increased smaller classes, coupled with teacher shortages, ensuring social distancing would be a tall order. Add to their shortage, many teachers are above 55 and, therefore, in the vulnerable bracket for the virus.
Granted, the Teachers Service Commission has been allocated Sh266 billion to spend in this year's budget to be read tomorrow, a huge leap from the Sh241.1 billion given last year. It will spend Sh257.97 billion in teacher resource management that will include hiring 5,000 additional secondary school teachers and 4,920 for primary.
