This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
On June 6, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Education to expedite consultations on how schools can reopen without compromising the health status of children.
However, the Education Response Committee on Covid-19 had recommended that this be done before September, a proposal that has been met with skepticism by parents and some teachers.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers called for a phased reopening to accommodate national examination candidates, arguing that long closures lead to a rise in dropout rates and other forms of deviancy.
On the other hand, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) is adamant that schools should only reopen once the viral infections are contained.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha seems to concur, stating, “The government will never sacrifice the health of our children [for the sake] of an education that can wait to be offered at a later time when the safety and health of children can be guaranteed.”
According to the Ministry of Health, September is also the month when the Covid-19 infection rate will peak, making it a challenging time to reopen schools.
It is difficult to ensure that children wear face masks, keep social distance from their peers, and maintain good hygiene practices, especially in a crowded school environment.
South Korea and France, whose governments thought they had cornered the virus, had to beat a hasty retreat on reopening schools, and it is essential to learn from their experiences.
Mr Ngwiri is a consultant editor.
