Schools reopening plans to face further delay amid rising cases of Covid-19

There could be delays in the reopening of secondary and primary schools occasioned by uncertainties as hinted by Education CS George Magoha.

Magoha who spoke Wednesday July 1 after a meeting, stated that the reopening of schools depend on the extent of the Covid-19 infections in the country, and could be pushed to 2021.

He disclosed that the reopening of schools will also depend on the preparedness of the education sector stakeholders in enforcing the Covid-19 containment guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health.

“Whatever is going to determine whether we open or not will depend on whether social distancing will be achieved in Schools… Parents have been very firm that we don’t open until we achieve stability which means until the curve is flattened,” stated Magoha.

The meeting was also attended by Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Wilson Sossion among other education industry players.

The President announced the closure of schools on March 15, 2020, three days after the country reported the first case of coronavirus.

Recently the Head of State directed the Ministry of Education to prepare a new school calendar by Mid-August 2020, with schools scheduled to reopen in September.

The Education CS Magoha has however advised President Kenyatta against the reopening of schools following the recent spike in numbers of Covid-19 infections in the country which are now at 6,673 in the country as at Wednesday July 1.