- The Ministry of Education has ordered schools closed due to unrest to implement structured academic recovery programmes to safeguard syllabus coverage and exam preparedness.
- Schools are expected to reorganise timetables, add revision sessions, and enhance monitoring, while principals and teachers are urged to show strong leadership in ensuring lost lessons are compensated.
- Ogamba emphasised parental involvement in shaping learner behaviour, warned against vandalism of school property, and called for collective efforts to create safe learning environments.
The Ministry of Education has directed schools that were recently closed due to student unrest to implement structured academic recovery programmes to ensure learners make up for the instructional time lost during the disruptions.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government is committed to safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s academic calendar, stressing that no learner should be disadvantaged by temporary interruptions. He noted that closures, regardless of duration, directly affect syllabus coverage, continuous assessment, examination preparedness, and the overall quality of learning.
The directive comes amid growing concern among education stakeholders over the impact of unrest in several institutions, where normal operations were suspended to restore order and guarantee safety. Ogamba emphasised that affected schools must prepare recovery plans immediately upon reopening, outlining practical measures to cover missed lessons without compromising quality or overwhelming learners.
Among the interventions expected are reorganised timetables, additional revision sessions, effective use of available learning periods, and enhanced monitoring of syllabus coverage by administrators. The ministry believes these measures will help learners recover lost time while keeping schools aligned with the national education programme.
Ogamba underscored that uninterrupted learning is vital for the successful rollout of Competency‑Based Education (CBE), which relies on continuous instruction, regular assessments, and gradual skill acquisition. He warned that prolonged interruptions interfere with classroom progress and make it difficult for teachers to complete the curriculum within prescribed timelines.
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strengthening school–family partnerships for discipline
Beyond academics, Ogamba called for stronger partnerships between schools and families to promote discipline among learners. He stressed that parents play a fundamental role in shaping children’s character, respect for authority, and adherence to school rules, noting that schools alone cannot effectively address indiscipline without consistent guidance at home.
He urged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s education by monitoring behaviour, maintaining communication with teachers, and responding promptly to disciplinary concerns. Creating safe and peaceful learning environments, he said, requires collective effort involving parents, teachers, learners, school boards, religious organisations, and the wider community.
On accountability, Ogamba warned that acts of vandalism and destruction of school property carry serious financial consequences. Parents of learners found responsible may be required to meet the cost of repairs or replacements in line with existing regulations. He reminded stakeholders that school infrastructure is a shared national investment built through public resources and parental contributions, and must be protected.
Education experts have repeatedly cautioned that unrest undermines academic performance, disrupts exam preparation, affects learners’ emotional well‑being, and imposes financial burdens on institutions. They have called for greater investment in guidance and counselling, mental health support, conflict resolution, and student leadership initiatives to address root causes of indiscipline.
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The ministry maintains that protecting learning time remains a top priority. As schools resume operations, officials will closely monitor recovery strategies to ensure learners complete the syllabus and remain adequately prepared for assessments and national examinations.
The government’s latest directive sends a clear message: while student safety and school security are paramount, every effort must be made to ensure education continues uninterrupted. By combining academic recovery plans, strengthened discipline, and greater parental involvement, the ministry hopes to minimise disruptions and uphold the quality of education across the country.
By Hillary Muhalya
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