This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha announced that schools across the country were unlikely to reopen in September this year.
Speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi, Prof. Magoha stated that projections by the Ministry of Health on coronavirus infections did not augur well for plans to resume learning in September.
Prof. Magoha confirmed that his ministry was in continuous talks with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders on the suitable reopening time.
He revealed that stakeholders in Education had narrowed down options on reopening of schools for consideration by the President, and their recommendations would be made known through the President's address to the nation on Kenya's COVID-19 status on July 6, 2020.
The Ministry of Education was directed to announce the new school calendar by mid-August to pave the way for the return of education from September 1.
Earlier, the CS had acknowledged that social distancing in schools would be a major challenge ahead of the planned September reopening, citing the existing infrastructure in schools as insufficient to support such a recommendation given the learner population.
