This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Published on July 15, 2020, a report by the Nation revealed that more than 300,000 learners are likely to miss classes when the academic year begins as private schools hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic may remain permanently shut.
Kenya's 11,000 private learning centres are reeling under the coronavirus sting, with many unable to pay workers and foot bills. The Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) stated that more than 1,000 learning institutions may not be in a position to take back their pupils and students next year.
Some private schools have shut down after being evicted from their rental premises, while others have lost employees as they could not keep them on payroll. KPSA chairman Peter Ndoro reported that about 109 schools will not be back in business, citing the difficulty of having no income for months.
Private schools employ hundreds of thousands of teaching and subordinate staff, now rendered jobless. KPSA vice chairman Isaiah Mbaabu stated that teachers have deserted them since there is no money, and that an estimated 200 schools with more than 50,000 children in Upper Eastern are likely to permanently close.
Mr. Mbaabu added that more than 300,000 students will be out of private schools next year, and that they must be absorbed by public schools which lack teachers and viral facilities. He also criticized Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion for opposing State bailout of private schools.
Mr. Sossion had stated that the government has no contract with business-oriented learning institutions and that it would be a violation of government policy to provide children free education if funds are used on private entities.
