- Education authorities are stepping up preparations to protect schools from possible El Niño-related disruption.
- Hillary Muhalya says the focus must extend beyond infrastructure to learner safety and continuity of learning.
- The preparations are particularly critical as the rainy period coincides with national examinations and assessments.
Education Cabinet Secretary Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba has moved to strengthen the education sector’s preparedness for the potentially disruptive effects of forecast El Niño conditions, with the safety of millions of learners, teachers and school communities taking centre stage.
Ogamba held a high-level meeting with Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris at Jogoo House B, Nairobi, as the Ministry steps up contingency planning to cushion schools against climate-related disasters.
The meeting signals growing concern over the potential impact of extreme weather on learning institutions, particularly as heavy rains, flooding, strong winds and other climate-related emergencies can quickly disrupt the school calendar and threaten critical education infrastructure.
The Ministry of Education has consequently placed disaster preparedness and management at the heart of its response strategy, recognising that protecting learners and teachers must go hand in hand with protecting the continuity of education.
The anticipated weather conditions could pose serious challenges to schools located in areas vulnerable to flooding, landslides and other weather-related hazards. School buildings, roads, bridges, sanitation facilities and learning materials could also be affected if adequate preventive measures are not put in place.
But beyond infrastructure, the greatest concern remains the safety and welfare of learners and teachers.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society and other partners, is therefore expected to implement necessary measures to strengthen preparedness, emergency response and coordination within school communities.
The objective is clear: keep learners safe, protect teachers and school property, and ensure that education does not grind to a halt because of extreme weather.
Focus on examinations and assessments
Of particular importance is the continuity of national examinations and assessments.
The Ministry has indicated that contingency measures will be put in place to ensure that critical education programmes, including national examinations and assessments, proceed with minimal disruption despite possible weather-related challenges.
This comes at a time when schools and learners cannot afford prolonged interruptions to the academic calendar.
The partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society is expected to bolster the Ministry’s capacity to anticipate disasters, respond rapidly when emergencies occur and support affected school communities during recovery.
School administrators and education stakeholders are also expected to remain alert and closely monitor official weather and safety advisories as preparations intensify.
Climate change and education
The latest development underscores a broader reality facing Kenya’s education sector: climate change is no longer an abstract environmental concern—it is increasingly an education and child-safety issue.
Extreme weather can destroy classrooms, interrupt attendance, displace families, damage learning materials and expose children to serious safety risks.
For this reason, effective disaster preparedness must become an integral component of school management and education planning.
As the country braces for the anticipated El Niño conditions, the Ministry’s message is increasingly clear—preparedness must come before disaster strikes.
Through closer coordination with the Kenya Red Cross Society and other stakeholders, the government hopes to ensure that schools are better equipped to withstand emergencies and that learners can continue pursuing their education even in the face of climate-related disruptions.
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The coming weeks will therefore be critical for education officials, school administrators, teachers, parents and learners as they prepare to respond to any emerging weather-related risks.
Photo caption: Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba meets Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris at Jogoo House B in Nairobi. The two discuss measures to strengthen the education sector’s preparedness for possible disruptions associated with anticipated El Niño conditions.
By Hillary Muhalya
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