Education stakeholders make demands as curfew ends today
Kitale Catholic Bishop Anthony Maurice has called for a partial reopening of schools to accommodate KCPE and KCSE candidates and other learners to resume later in the year.
The clergyman was speaking on behalf of other education stakeholders who pushed for a partial reopening of schools as the extended curfew ends Saturday.
The stakeholders said a complete reopening of all schools would plunge the country into a renewed scourge which would make social distancing in schools hard.
"For the safety of the candidates, the remaining space occupied by the majority of others in non-examination classes should be used for social distancing. In addition, Ministry Of Education and respective coronavirus response teams should then make sure fumigation has been done for the safe return of the examination candidates’’, he said.
The Prelate appealed to the president to consider extending the traveling ban in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Speaking to People Daily on Saturday, the Bishop for Kitale Diocese warned those who are happy that they may soon roam freely that the country is not yet off the hooks of the virus.
He asked authorities to control hundreds of teenagers walking leisurely and idling around malls and in the estates without face masks.
The Kenya Union Of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Trans Nzoia County Chairman Eliud Wafula said schools should not be opened hurriedly as it may expose learners and tutors to more infections.
He differed with those calling for a total reopening of the institutions, saying without life there would be no teaching.
‘’The government must keep restrictions on the opening of schools for at least another 21 days. Our concern is that despite the best efforts the government is putting up, the authorities have no otherwise but put up more stringent measures to completely keep the virus out of reach for our children,’’ he said.
He said many tutors especially those above 50 years would be at greater risk of contacting the viral disease.
The Director in Charge of Mount Kenya University Dr. David Lwangale encouraged the adoption of E-Learning in giving instructions and evaluations to learners.
“As stakeholders, we are deeply concerned that if the president ends the curfew and travel ban people especially learners may be exposed to more infections. We are kindly asking him to put an extension to the earlier measures for the safety of Kenyans until such a time when the whole country will see rising cases come to zero level,’’ he said
