Schools Reopen Amid Tight Calendar

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 18- Schools countrywide on Thursday resumed after a three-week break to allow for the General Election on August 9th, 2022.

The projected break was extended after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) delayed announcing the presidential results.

Initially, schools were to re-open on August 11th after the Election but this was not to be, as the CS Education Prof. George Magoha moved the reopening date to August 15th and later moved the date to today August 18, 2022, for a smooth transition of the students.

Speaking to Kiambu Sub County Director of Education Roselyn Litaba acknowledged that due to the delay and this being a hectic term, schools will have to work to maximize the school calendar and ensure that they complete the syllabus.

“It is upon schools to work at the individual level to ensure that the students are able to catch up and complete the syllabus in the stipulated time,” she said.

Litaba also noted that it would be difficult for the term to be extended considering the school calendar is already set and the National exam timetable already set.

She also added that she hopes the Education stakeholders will ensure that schools will not be distracted if the Supreme Court declares a repetition of the presidential Election after Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga challenged the results.

Kiambu Township Primary School headteacher John Mwania told KNA that 90 per cent of pupils have reported back to school and he expects that by the coming week all learners will have report back.

“As a school we are scheduled to have a meeting with all teachers so that we can discuss the way forward and how we will be able to manage to cover the syllabus for the remaining term. We are confident that we will do it even with the apparent pressure,” he said.

Most parents who spoke to KNA  also hoped that there will be no disruptions of the school calendar in the event of either a repeat of presidential election or even a by -election

One parent, John Miaro, whose son schools in Kiambu High school said that his son was a form four student and he hoped the government will now concentrate on preparing the students in their upcoming final exams set to be held at the end of the year.

“My opinion is that the government should contemplate going back to holding elections in the month of December so that the school calendar is not disrupted the way it was, and it should be carried out when our children are at home and are awaiting to join the next class since the school premises are the ones used for elections,” Miaro said.

Leah Wambui a parent however said that she would prefer that the government extends the term so that it can be easier on them to get schools fees.

“It will be really difficult for us to pay school fees in this short duration and the children only have less than one month to be in school for the term. It will be a relief for us parents if the term is extended,” she said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha on Wednesday said that the learning schedule would not be extended to allow teachers and students to make up for the time lost and that schools have to work to ensure that learners sitting for the National examinations are done with the Syllabus before November.

Magoha also assured that secondary schools will not lose more time in case the elections are repeated.

“If the tallying of votes is supposed to, let’s say, take place at secondary schools we want to urge that IEBC relocate the tallying center to institutions of higher learning. This will avert the loss of more time in the academic calendar,” he said.

The current term which was supposed to be ten weeks is expected to end on September 16, 2022.