Why schools can’t reopen, just yet, for Term Two calendar.
The Meteorological Department’s estimates and data gathered by regional officials over the course of the previous week regarding the state of the institutions informed the decision to postpone the reopening of schools indefinitely.
Data provided by county and regional directors of education indicate that the country’s heavy rains have destroyed school infrastructure, particularly sanitization facilities, making it challenging to continue instruction.
On Friday, President William Ruto issued an order delaying the reopening “until further notice.”
This occurred only three hours after Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, sent a circular announcing that schools will return on Monday of the next week and outlining rules for parents and schools to abide by.
Mr. Machogu claims that the President chose to delay the reopening of schools after additional discussions. Dr. Ruto said in his speech to the nation that damaged and flooded roads, bridges, overflowing rivers, and dams have made it difficult to move about the nation.
We’re not mentioning a certain date since we’re unsure.
The state of affairs is dire and becoming worse by the day. Mr. Machogu told Nation, “The President has communicated in good time, so we don’t have to risk our children.”
A news release issued by the Ministry of Interior states that 1,967 schools’ infrastructure has been devastated by the floods, affecting about 165,500 people, and 33,100 homes have been forced to relocate.
According to the government, 115 camps have been established for the 27,586 persons who have been affected by the floods in 19 counties.
The displaced persons are being housed in some schools. According to President Ruto, 210 people have died as a result of the rains so far, and meteorological reports indicate that the rains will likely continue for longer than this month. More harm would result from this.
But according to Mr. Machogu, the Ministry of Education (MoE) lacks emergency response funding, and the impacted institutions would have to rely on the generosity of the lawmakers in charge of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF).
“The NG-CDF has an emergency component of their allocation (seven percent), but in a situation like this, they can use more,” Mr. Machogu stated. “The MoE doesn’t have an emergency allocation.”
In addition, the President asked MPs to reallocate their NG-CDF allotments so that the restoration of school infrastructure—damaged by the floods—would take precedence.
Following the President’s postponement, Mr. Machogu released the second circular of the day, instructing students who had already reported to class to stay there until it is safe for them to go home.
Willy Kuria, the chair of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, told Nation that restrooms and latrines are the most severely damaged facilities, endangering the health of both staff and students.
In order to help schools get ready to open, he made a call.
“Since the government has no control over nature, schools lack the funding necessary to prepare for disasters, and the money they do receive from fees and capitation is insufficient.” To determine who needs help, an examination had to be conducted, he stated.
Silas Obuhatsa, the National Parents Association chair, advised prudence when it came to school reopenings. Parents should visit schools in the company of heads of the institution and the boards of management beforehand to conduct assessments and ensure that the facilities are safe for reopening.
Learners should wait until it’s safe to reopen if, in their opinion, the conditions prevent it,” he stated.
According to Mr. Kuria, instruction is continuing at certain schools where students, particularly those in Form Four, had reported prior to the initial postponement.
It goes without saying that some students who are at home will suffer. If this continues until next week for my school, Murang’a High, I’ll expedite the online learning process. He remarked, “I recommend that other schools go online as well.
The head of Kessha recommended reorganizing the terms and shortening the holidays, particularly the end of the first year, which is typically two months, if the dates of the terms are severely changed.
While teachers are aware of the unpredictable nature of flooding, according to Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers secretary-general Akello Misori, “there’s confusion and lack of coordination in government communication.”
“We acknowledge that not every region of the nation is impacted, but it would be inequitable to reopen schools in the face of some students being unable to attend or perhaps being homeless. Since it has impacted the term dates, we advise a stakeholder engagement on the topic,” Mr. Misori stated.
He urged the government to evaluate the circumstances and take action to safeguard students, faculty, and other school community members.
Mr. Machogu has instructed school boards of management to provide the county education boards with reports on the state of their institutions.
The reports ought to cover things like rain-related infrastructure damage and mitigating actions. Reports must be turned in by May 8th.
The county boards of education are then expected to evaluate the circumstances in their particular regions and report back to the CS by May 10.
Ruto halts school reopenings indefinitely
Ruto mentions the flooding situation due to the anticipated increase in rainfall.
Why schools can’t reopen, just yet, for Term Two calendar.
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