This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
Kenya's schools have been closed since mid-March, with the Ministry of Education facing significant challenges in reopening them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has emphasized the need for a clear plan to ensure social distancing and hygiene among students, citing the lack of running water in some schools as a major concern.
Speaking during an inspection of Ruiru Girls and Boys schools in Kiambu County, Magoha stated that the Ministry is working on guidelines to ensure that schools can reopen safely.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to the Health Ministry's protocols on COVID-19, calling on parents to guide their children on the need to observe these protocols.
Magoha also highlighted the need for schools to have constant flowing water to maintain hygiene among students, particularly in urban and rural areas.
“In case we are thinking about reopening, we need all schools to have enough water flow for hygiene. We are also thinking of how we will enhance social distancing in all our schools. Having one double-decker in one cubicle is something that we will have to reconsider,” he said.
The Ministry has created a ten-member Covid-19 national education response committee to evaluate possibilities on how soon schools can reopen.
However, there have been concerns over the constitution of the committee, with some institutions claiming that they had been sidelined despite being key stakeholders.
