This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
July 12, 2019 - A recent tweet by @MoseaxKenya has sparked a heated debate on the ideal time for children to report to school in the morning. The tweet, which featured a photo of school kids waiting outside a school gate in Limuru at 5:30 am, has brought to the fore the seemingly unending issue of early school reporting times.
Limuru, a township in Kiambu County, is known for its cold climate, with fog and mist being a norm. The photo, which has been shared widely on social media, shows children as young as seven years old waiting outside the school gate, shivering in the cold.
Parents and netizens have taken to social media to express their outrage over the issue, with some blaming the parents for allowing their children to report to school too early. One parent, Fredrick Horrace, said, 'I blame the parents. Why would I allow My kids out of My House at that time? Mine go to school at 7:40 am & still perform better than the early birds.'
However, others have argued that parents must take responsibility for their children and deal with the school accordingly. Tim Gitonga tweeted, 'Where are the parents? Parents must take responsibility of their children and deal with the school accordingly. Surely the good @ProfMagoha cannot adjudicate matters within parent real of control.'
Former Education Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, weighed in on the issue, saying that 'tight school programmes do not provide time for learners to think or play. School programmes should not make it hard for children to be children. Even as we maintain standards, we must not overstretch our children.'
According to the Kenya Gazette supplement No. 37 of April 8, 2015, the official opening hours for all day and private schools are Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm for class hours and 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm for co-curriculum activities. Section 84 (2) states that no day institution of basic education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7:15 am.
