By Amoto Dennis
As learning resumed amid a myriad of problems that knocked on the door at the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education has reported that over 10, 000 learners who were previously in private schools have crossed to the public schools.
Coming hot on the heels of the financial well that went dry when schools were shut to avert the spread of the Covid-19 in March 2020, private schools are facing another challenge of losing learners to the public schools.
According to the Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha, over 1,000 learners were transferred from private schools to the public in Nyeri.
Speaking to the press, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha seemed offended by the photos that went viral showing learners seated either on the ground or under the trees.
He, however, defended the government saying that it had built the highest number of classrooms in the East African Region in preparation for the reopening. Sharp criticism of the lauded Rwanda which constructed 22,000 classrooms.
“We have spent about Sh15 billion on the maintenance of schools infrastructure and another Sh8.2 billion to put up new classrooms funded by the World Bank and other partners,” said Magoha.
The furious CS explained that learning under a tree is healthy since trees provide enough oxygen that combats the Coronavirus.
‘’Trees increase oxygen in the air, and oxygen is the only treatment for Covid-19,’’ said Magoha pleading with the public to help in creating understanding by encouraging children to learn under trees instead of confusion.
Learning under trees has earned him sharp criticism since it saliently paints the government’s level of preparedness ahead of school reopening.
