This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
On May 16, 2020, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha visited Ruiru Girls' High School in Kiambu, where he defended his decision to exclude teachers from the nine-member Covid-19 Education Response Committee.
Magoha emphasized that it was not necessary for everyone to be included in the committee, stating, 'I have formed the committee which might not be perfect but it has been formed. And we have said any other person can be able to give us what they think should be done.'
He noted that the union was represented on the committee, with a unionist appointed to coordinate the efforts of other union members.
Magoha highlighted the importance of considering several factors before reopening schools, including ensuring that schools have clean running water and can maintain a one-meter social distance in class and dormitories.
He explained, 'In case we are thinking about reopening, we shall need a situation where there is flowing water in most schools. We must also think to keep the social distance of one meter and therefore having six double-deckers in a cubicle is something that we shall have to reconsider.'
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion had previously demanded a slot in the committee for the union, stating, 'We must sit in the task force of Covid-19, otherwise we are joining the global community of teachers in rejecting any hurried reopening of schools, lives of teachers and students is paramount.'
