This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the country, the Kenyan government has made the difficult decision to consider the 2020 academic year lost. This means that all primary and secondary schools will now reopen in January 2021, rather than in September as initially planned.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha made the announcement in a press address at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), stating that the decision was made after consulting with all industry stakeholders and taking into account COVID-19 mitigation measures.
According to Prof. Magoha, the stakeholders decided to shelve the initial plan to begin phased reopening in September this year after parents expressed reservations about sending their children to school due to the spike in coronavirus cases.
As a result, the 2020 Standard 8 and Form 4 candidates will now sit their KCPE and KCSE examinations respectively later in the year of 2021. Learners in Grade 1 to 4 and Standard 5 to 7 as well as Form 1 to 3 in 2020 will remain in their current classes in 2021.
Prof. Magoha also stated that there will be no KCPE and KCSE examinations in 2021, citing the fact that the current Standard 7 and Form 3 students will not be able to cover the curriculum load for five terms in one year and sit for the examinations.
Additionally, the CS noted that teacher training colleges and TVET institutions will be allowed to reopen from September 2020, subject to strict adherence to the Ministry of Health COVID-19 protocols. Universities were also urged to consider phased reopening, but only upon achieving physical and social distancing in halls of residence, lecture rooms, and dining areas.
Until then, the CS said that universities should continue holding virtual learning and graduations for students who have successfully completed their programmes and met graduation requirements set by their respective Senates.
