CS Machogu issues new directives ahead of schools reopening.
As schools are scheduled to resume on May 6th, following heavy rains and flooding in several regions of the nation, the government has provided guidelines.
Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, issued a directive on Friday emphasizing the need to prioritize student and staff safety. In cases where it is not feasible for students to continue their education in the most seriously impacted establishments, the CS recommended that the Boards of Management (BoM) temporarily close the schools until conditions improve.
In cases where learning cannot proceed in the most badly impacted institutions, BoMs are recommended to temporarily close the schools until conditions improve. When classes restart, the administration of these schools needs to devise plans to make up for lost time.
Because of flash floods, swollen rivers, and landslides, the current weather makes it difficult for people to get to and from school, which has an impact on the transportation system for students. Therefore, it is the responsibility of parents to make sure that their kids get at school securely and on time,” Machogu stated in a May 2 circular to the Regional, County, and Sub County Directors of Education.
In a similar vein, Machogu claimed that some of the individuals who were forced from their homes by the destructive power of the rains have taken up residence in schools.
“Regular academic activities may not be able to continue at such schools. In order to guarantee that the facilities are available for regular learning activities, field education officers operating in areas where schools are housing displaced people should coordinate with National Government Administration Officers to quickly identify alternative accommodations for affected individuals, the CS instructed.
According to reports, certain institutions have experienced flooding as a result of the rains, damaging infrastructure, destroying teaching and learning materials, and generating sanitary issues. Machogu claimed this. Field education officers are therefore expected to devise mitigating strategies to ensure that instruction is not interfered with.
The measures include the pooling of resources between neighboring schools and, when appropriate, the employment of multi-grade and multi-shift models of instruction.
However, the CS has stated that certain school facilities could not be secure for students, which could impede their readiness to start classes again.
This is particularly true for sanitary facilities destroyed by flooding, some of which are flooded or have collapsed.
“Water supplies may become contaminated as a result, endangering public health and possibly sparking an outbreak of illnesses carried by the water. Principals, head teachers, and BoMs have been instructed not to host personnel or pupils in facilities that pose a risk to life,” stated Machogu.
All school boards (BoMs) were instructed by the CS to hold meetings and provide reports to the County Education Boards (CEB) regarding the state of their individual schools.
The reports should list any losses brought on by unfavorable circumstances and provide mitigation strategies to guarantee a supportive learning environment. Reports must be turned in by May 8th.
Additionally, CEBs are advised to call urgent meetings in order to evaluate the situation and deliver thorough findings to the CS by May 10. The CS further asked Regional Directors of Education to keep the public informed about the state of education institutions under their purview, including safe opening procedures and the collection of data on students who are not enrolled in classes.
However, the heads of the institutions are required to report on the number of students who miss class because the transportation system is inaccessible, the impact that weather has on their family’s ability to make a living, and the number of students whose families are internally displaced as a result of continuous rains.
In light of the weather forecast reports from the Kenya Meteorological Department that are periodically provided, he advised all parties involved in education to place a high priority on the security and welfare of educators, students, and the school community.
CS Machogu issues new directives ahead of schools reopening.
Follow Us on Telegram.