We are not sure of opening schools in January- Prof Magoha

Ministry of Education is not sure of January opening date for schools in the country.

Education cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has hinted at an extension of the opening date and asked parents and stakeholders to be ready for anything.

He said changes are possible since Coronavirus is still a concern which is yet to be contained to give an assurance of resuming classes.

He said safety of children in the country comes first and it cannot be compromised due to educational reasons.

He was speaking this during his virtual talks with National Assembly Education Committee on Thursday August 6^th.

“Decisions regarding reopening of learning institutions may change as informed by prevailing circumstances and increased knowledge of Covid-19. If we open in January and there is a surge, we will step down and observe the trends. People have tried to open, like South Africa, and have shut again,” Magoha warned.

Interestingly, he also ruled out the possibility of holding KCSE and KCPE examinations any time soon saying it was still quiet unsafe to order teachers and students to report for that purpose in September.

He cited the ever rising Covid-19 cases in the world and with research showing that the expected projection would be a spike in the cases from October 2020.

The CS was reacting to remarks from a section of the lawmakers who had pressured him to allow setting exams on what learners had covered before the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country.

But defiant Magoha refused to take that but urged schools to continue with their preparations for January exams just in case all will be well.

“The authority to reopen for learning and research will be informed by MoH and my ministry based on dynamics of preparedness,” he said.

This is happening three months done the line after learners were all ordered back to their homes following the outbreak of the pandemic