Why Is The Ministry Mute On The Schools Shut Permanently?

Dear Parents,

I hope this finds you well and keeping safe in these trying times. This is to officially inform you of the permanent closure of Little Birds Kindergarten. I am sincerely grateful to you, the highly esteemed parents for your patronage, support, and cooperation through the years.

It has been a genuine pleasure and privilege for me to have been in this educational institution for your cherished and wonderful children. I wish them well and all the best in their future academic endeavors. May God keep you and bless you all.

Kind regards,

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The above was a message sent to parents who had their kids in one of the schools along Thika Road that was thriving and doing well before Covid-19 came knocking. One of the parents is devasted with nowhere to take the kids and many schools are not taking in new students.

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With much bravado, threats, and arrogance, Professor George Magoha ordered the reopening of schools in “phases” starting with Grade 4, Standard 8, and Form 4, in total disregard of how hard parents had been hit by the impact of Covid-19.

With pain, struggling and with nothing in their pockets, most parents, despite the fact that they feared for their kids’ safety, allowed them to be back in school. Magoha who had promised to issue free masks changed tune a day to the reopening of the schools.

READ: 54,000 Kids Have No Schools To Go To On Monday

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The reopening of the schools was not the problem. Parents have accepted their fate and the fact that Professor George Magoha is “wiser” than them and knows what is best for the kids than the “ignorant” parents. That, they have accepted.

The problem is, as schools resumed, more than 54,000 students have nowhere to go because more than 160 private schools which they attended before have been permanently closed and turned into other businesses due to the impact of Covid-19 on their operations.

In Mukuru kwa Ruben slum, for instance, more than 15 schools closed permanently. Some were demolished by the government to pave way for the construction of a road. For that reason, more than 2,000 students from Mukuru Kwa Ruben have not resumed school.

In Baringo, more than 27 schools have been swallowed by the fast-spreading LakeBaringo, shutting out hundreds of students. Education PS Belio Kipsang’ has been in the area saying the kids will be moved to “other schools” but the kids are “nowhere to be found.”

READ: Covid-19 Is An Awakening Call For Kenyan E-Commerce

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But all of a sudden, Professor George Magoha has lost his voice. He has not spoken about what will happen to students whose schools have been closed permanently.

He has not said how kids in those schools who were to sit for KCSE/KCPE will sit their exams now that KNEC says no kid will be allowed to “sit exams elsewhere.”

Question is, why is the ministry mute of this matter?

READ: Time We Told Professor George Magoha The Reality On The Ground