This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
As the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenyan government has announced a one-month extension of school closure, affecting over 15 million learners.
The decision was made by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Sunday, citing the need to prioritize the safety and lives of children.
Magoha emphasized that the extension is meant to allow the country to heal from the spread of the disease, stating, "In the interest of the safety and lives of our children, the government has decided to extend school closure for one month effective from the date of opening."
President Uhuru Kenyatta had previously extended the cessation of movement into and out of counties with high incidences of COVID-19 by a further 21 days on Saturday.
Despite the extension, Magoha assured that national examinations scheduled for October and November will proceed as planned.
However, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination, set to start on November 2, and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, set to start on November and end on November 30, may be postponed if the Kenya National Examination Council decides to do so.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has stepped in to offer radio and TV lessons, while providing more learning materials on the Kenya Education Cloud.
Some private schools have also organized online classes for their learners, with many announcing that their virtual schools will open next week.
