This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
As the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has hinted that colleges may reopen before secondary and primary schools. This comes as the government engages stakeholders to see how best to manage social distancing once schools reopen.
Speaking during a meeting with TVET principals from Nyanza, Western, and South Rift at Kisumu Polytechnic on June 26, Magoha observed that TVET institutions and universities had put in place proposed COVID-19 measures, which may allow them to reopen much earlier than primary and secondary schools.
“The TVET institutions, as we have looked at them, have a much better chance in terms of getting social distancing. Like universities, they offer various courses and can adjust their programmes and open in shifts much more easily than the primary and secondary schools,” he said.
Magoha expressed worry over the increasing cases, stating that the resumption of physical studies should be after the affected nation had reached its peak and cases started coming down. He added that there is no country in the world that has dared to reopen when the COVID-19 infections were still rising.
“As a physician, I will tell you according to my training, we should open after we have reached the peak and stabilised and started coming down for 14 days continuously,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had on June 6 directed Magoha to announce a new school calendar by the middle of August in readiness for physical learning in September. The head of state said Kenya was ill-prepared to handle a surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly in upcountry counties with poor health services.
When receiving the COVID-19 National Education Response Committee report on June 5, Magoha said the government would keenly review some of the proposals before learners were allowed back. The taskforce made proposals that will guide the government in reopening learning institutions.
“Further, the ministry will review the report before advising the country on the steps to be taken and the level of preparedness that will be required of all stakeholders in the running of ECDE centres, primary and secondary schools and teacher training institutions,” he said.
The schools have remained closed since March 16. On Sunday, April 26, the government extended the closure of schools for one month from May 4, 2020, when the schools were to reopen for the second term.
