This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
As Kenya prepares to reopen schools in September, the government is considering making coronavirus tests mandatory for all teachers.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha revealed the plan, stating that the decision would be made in the coming days.
Magoha's announcement comes as the country grapples with the challenge of mass testing, with medics advising that students be tested before resuming school and positive cases advised to stay home until they recover.
Experts have also urged the government to provide face masks to learners and ensure proper use and regular changing of the protective gear.
Magoha inspected the progress of manufacturing face masks for learners at Rivatex East Africa in Eldoret, where 24 million pieces will be delivered to schools in August ahead of the reopening.
"Once we agree on the prototype, then we will get the pricing so that when schools open in September, face masks will be in the institutions by mid-August as per the presidential directive," Magoha said.
The mass production of face masks by Rivatex will resume as soon as the Ministry of Health approves the prototype, Magoha added.
Magoha also stated that schools will receive masks and sanitation facilities by mid-August in readiness for reopening, as per President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive.
However, discussions between the Ministry of Education and that of Health are yet to conclude on whether learners in lower primary will be allowed to wear masks.
"We will soon reach a consensus on whether the pupils in primary one and primary two will wear masks," Magoha said.
