Education Ministry to Work on Gradual Reopening of Schools from September

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the Ministry of Education to work on the gradual reopening of schools in Kenya from the 1^st of September 2020.

The president told the ministry to ensure that there is a new education calendar by mid-August as the country plans to return normalcy in the learning institutions that have been paralyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Parents and Teachers have been waiting for the final word from the education officials but the Ministry has been hesitant to reopen the schools since it could be hazardous if proper protocols are not put in place.

During the briefing at Statehouse, President Kenyatta said that at least three thresholds have to be met for the economy to reopen but Kenya is still not able to meet most of them.

According to President Uhuru, there should be a downward trend in the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths the numbers in the country have recently spiked.

The second threshold to be met involves health facilities that should be well prepared and not overwhelmed. On this most health facilities especially in the counties are already overwhelmed.

In Siaya Covid-19 center, there are only ten beds of which nine are occupied while Busia has 34 beds but the facility is already overcrowded. Each county should have at least 300 beds thus this second threshold has not been met.

The Third threshold that has to be considered before reopening the economy capacity for surveillance and monitoring of the virus in terms of testing and other requirements. Kenya has already conducted close to 90,000 tests on Covid-19 samples which is commendable.

The Government is also working on protocols to gradually and progressively reopen the places of worship, domestic air transport but on a later date.

Other places of social gatherings including entertainment centers like bars and clubs will still remain closed until the virus is reduced to a manageable level.