This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya is facing a critical decision: whether to reopen schools. Dr. Janerose Mutegi, an educational management and policy expert, believes that this is a decision that should not be taken lightly.
Published on June 7, 2020, Dr. Mutegi's article highlights the risks associated with reopening schools during a pandemic. She notes that the sample population tested in Kenya is low, making it difficult to determine the true extent of the threat.
Dr. Mutegi argues that the government should prioritize scientific evidence over public demand. She points out that the world is still learning about the virus, and that no country has claimed to have effectively managed it.
With an estimated 3.2 million pre-primary, 8 million primary, and 7.1 million secondary school students, the potential consequences of reopening schools are staggering. Dr. Mutegi estimates that if one student in a class of 40 tests positive, it could lead to the quarantine of hundreds of families.
Dr. Mutegi concludes that reopening schools during the pandemic is akin to 'jumping into a crocodile-infested pool and hoping that the reptiles will behave.' She urges Education CS George Magoha to come up with sustainable solutions to the complex issues bedeviling the sector.
