This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On July 7, 2020, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha announced that the 2020 academic calendar would be pushed back to January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing journalists at the KICD Headquarters in Nairobi, Prof. Magoha stated that basic learning institutions would reopen in January 2021, with the 2020 KCPE exams to be held 'later in 2021.'
However, the minister remained silent on the fate of KCSE exams, which are assumed to be held in 2021.
Prof. Magoha directed the Kenya National Examinations Council to republish new examination dates.
He emphasized that stakeholders had shelved the initial proposal to reopen basic learning institutions in September for Standard Eight and Form Four candidate classes.
Prof. Magoha further stated that if there were to be two Form One classes in the 2021 academic year, the country would experience severe equity challenges.
He explained that the total number of candidature in Form Four is 752,000, compared to approximately 1.2 million, which would mean a deficit of 438,000 students.
Therefore, it would be impossible to achieve social distancing, and physical classes would not be feasible for this huge number of students.
As a result, all learners in Grade 1 to 4, Standard 5 to 7, and Form 1 to 3 would remain in their current classes in 2021, with no KCPE exams to be held in 2021.
Declaring the 2020 school academic calendar lost due to COVID-19, Prof. Magoha stated that the decision was arrived at after factoring in the contribution of Education stakeholders, including parents who expressed reservations about sending their children back to school until the COVID-19 curve was flattened.
Universities would be reopened on a phased model, with each varsity reopening based on its own merit.
Vocational training colleges would reopen in September, with the disclaimer that they must observe COVID-19 safety guidelines on social distancing and hygiene.
