This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
Kenya's Education Ministry is grappling with the decision to keep schools closed until next year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha emphasized that the safety of children is the top priority, even if it means delaying national exams and school reopenings.
Speaking before the National Assembly Education and Research committee on Thursday, Magoha stated that the fate of the pending exams is a matter to be decided by an inter-ministerial decision, not the sole decision of the education ministry.
Magoha remained non-committal on the opening dates, noting that their decision will be informed by how the pandemic behaves.
He told the MPs, 'If children are going to stay at home for one year, so be it because they are safe there. Don't ask me the specific dates when we are going to re-open schools. Exams can be done next year.'
Magoha also acknowledged existing challenges in implementing e-learning, but assured disadvantaged learners will be given an equal opportunity when schools reopen, including remedial engagements to ensure they are all on par.
He stated, 'When schools open, the syllabus will start from where it stopped. Our teachers are good and if they focus on the children who perhaps didn't have the benefit of using e-learning at home, they will be able to cover the syllabus quickly.'
Magoha dismissed a proposal by Saku MP Dido Ali to have the country divided into three zones to address the education gaps, saying the existing technological challenges affected children in all regions, including urban centers.
He stated, 'The government does not support zoning of the country into three zones. It is wrong to insinuate that challenged children are coming from one region. Even here in Nairobi in slums, we have many who are disadvantaged.'
Magoha also absolved private institutions charging fees from blame, saying private institutions are at liberty to charge for their services in cases where such institutions are providing supplementary learning materials.
The Ministry will be engaging the National Assembly budget committee to ensure more allocation of funds to Covid-19 education kitty.
Magoha stated, 'Our government has the best interest of our children at heart. We will require additional exchequer funds to get supplies like soap and sanitisers. We will present our budget next Wednesday. We expect this house to appropriate funds.'
Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang put on notice those purporting to offer online lessons and are not certified teachers, declaring that all content developers must be vetted and approved by KICD.
He stated, 'All the content that is being delivered online has to be vetted and assessed by KICD while the persons delivering this context must be teachers registered by the Teachers Service Commission.'
