News

Magoha now hints schools may re-open before January

Monday, August 10th, 2020 00:00 | By
Pupils in class. Photo/Courtesy

Baraka Karama and Noven Owiti

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha now says that schools might re-open before January 2021 if the curve of  Covid-19 is flattened.

Magoha disclosed that a joint committee of stakeholders was monitoring the preparedness of schools on a daily basis and the outcome of their report will guide the re-opening of the learning institutions.

He, however, maintained that the government’s earlier position of re-opening schools in January 2021 still stands.

“I want to state here that on a daily basis we get reports and the position of opening schools in January was not cast in concrete.

Should the position change at any time, nothing stops us from re-looking at the time table and coming backwards.

If we flatten the curve six weeks earlier, then what reason will I have to keep children at home,” Magoha said.

He said rising cases of coronavirus had made it impossible for the re-opening of schools in September as earlier announced.

Said he: “We know that the huge population of students and pupils that we have in our institutions is very risky.

That is why we don’t regret whatsoever on the decision we made.”

On Thursday, the CS appeared before the parliamentary Education Committee to outline the ministry’s plan to re-open schools in January.

Huge population

The committee noted that several learning institutions were congested and had filthy dormitories that posed great danger to the learners.  

Yesterday, Magoha said: “ Those asking me to reopen schools including parents should know that we took that step for the safety of their own children”. 

Magoha also said that universities and colleges will reopen for face-to-face sessions in January 2021 as opposed to September.

Magoha made the remarks in Kisumu where he had accompanied his Health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe to assess the level of preparedness of Covid-19 in the county.

Kagwe warned Kisumu residents against violating measures put in place to fight the pandemic.

“You have seen us shut learning institutions because of the impact of this disease. Let us not assume that things are normal,” he said. 

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES News


ADVERTISEMENT