Schools Re-Opening After Mid-Term When Environment Is Safe-Magoha

KIAMBU, Kenya, Aug 9- Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has clarified that learners will only be allowed back in school from the midterm break if the environment is safe after the general elections.

Magoha, who was speaking at Juja Farm, Kiambu County after commissioning a new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) said the August 11 reporting date that the Ministry had set may change depending on the political environment.

He called on parents not to worry about the safety of their children saying the government will be on the watch and may extend the reporting date if need be.

The CS exuded optimism that the country will remain peaceful after the polls given that the presidential candidates have promised to accept the results.

“Assuming everything else is constant, the children should go back to school on August 11. However, the date may change depending on the political environment. For the love of our children, if we feel that they should stay home for one or two more days, we will then pronounce ourselves at that time. The public should not be worried at all because we will be on the watch,” he stated.

The CS said learners have suffered a lot due to the disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic and there was no need for more extensions due to an unsafe political environment. He called on politicians to exercise caution as they head to the polls for the sake of the children.

“We hope the political environment will be peaceful after the elections so that schools may reopen from the midterm break as projected. Our children have been disrupted for long by the Covid-19 pandemic and there is no need for further disruptions,” he said.

The schools closed for about eight months during the pandemic period, completely affecting the education calendar. The Ministry hopes to resume the normal school calendar from January next year.

“I plead with all politicians not to cause further disruptions by refusing election results. You must be prepared to win or lose. They must also be careful with whatever they say in public and accept the fact that there can only be one winner,” he said.