This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
On June 7, 2020, the government's decision to push the reopening of schools to September sparked concerns about the education sector's readiness for the new academic year.
With schools potentially losing six months of learning, the challenge lies in recovering the lost time and preparing learners to resume proper learning.
As a result, the national examinations, initially scheduled for October and November, will likely be pushed to early next year, disrupting the plans of Standard Eight and Form Four candidates.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has tasked the Ministries of Education and Health to prepare guidelines for schools and parents, building on the recommendations of the Covid-19 education task force that submitted its report to Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha last week.
To prepare schools for reopening, urgent steps must be taken, including expanding infrastructure, prioritizing water provision, and ensuring high hygiene levels.
The Education ministry and the Teachers Service Commission must also sensitize teachers on handling learners within the context of Covid-19, particularly in regard to basic hygiene, health monitoring, and emergency responses.
Furthermore, the government has allocated Sh6 billion for the education sector under the Covid-19 recovery package, which should be immediately disbursed to schools once approved by Parliament.
Given the tasks ahead, the Education ministry must move swiftly to prepare schools for reopening, unveiling the new school calendar and putting in place requisite measures for resumption of learning.
