Decision On Schools’ Reopening To Be Made Before 25th September

By Getrude Matayo

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha who graced the opening of the forum at KICD on 14^th September 2020 said schools reopening will be announced next week amid a drop in Covid-19 cases and increased lobbying by private school owners.

New Covid-19 cases in the country continue to drop, with Kenya only four days away from reaching the 14-day straight positivity rate of under-five percent that will mean the curve has been flattened.

The Cabinet Secretary did not disclose the details of the meeting’s resolutions, but he reaffirmed the earlier decision to reopen in January is not cast in stone and could change if the number of Covid-19 infections drops

“The President in his last address said that within three weeks there will be a larger stakeholder conference headed by CS Fred Matiang’i and Mutahi Kagwe which will be held before the 25th of this month to come up with a conclusion about the reopening of schools,” Magoha said.

CS George Magoha said that a mega stakeholder meeting is slated on or before 25^th September and will interrogate proposals from the smaller stakeholders before a decision is made.

Over the last week, private school owners have heisted lobbying, saying the government reconsiders reopening dates.

The ministry shelved plans for phased reopening initially set to start this month after parents expressed reservations following a rising Covid-19 infections curve towards the date.

In July, the Education Ministry announced that schools will not reopen until next year. Magoha, however, remarked that the decision is not cast on stone and could change depending on the virus trends.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to issue new guidelines by the end of this month as part of reopening the economy that has slowed down since March when the first Covid-19 case was recorded.

January had been set for the reopening date, provided the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic has passed. The Kenya Private Schools Association also wants the KCPE and KCSE exams to be conducted by December.