By Michael Oduor
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Nakuru branch has called upon the Ministry of Education to release a calendar of events early to enable early planning for the year 2022/2023.
The calendar provides direction on curricular and co-curricular activities like music, drama, sports, and Science and Engineering fairs including the dates and venues for each activity.
Speaking to Education News, KUPPET branch secretary Duncan Gitau Macharia applauded the Ministry of Health for lifting the Covid-19 restrictions that had banned sporting activities in schools.
“As leaders, we take this opportunity to congratulate the government for allowing teachers to design a return to sports protocols in 2021 and teachers are ready to resume sports,” he said.
Macharia is now calling upon the ministry to fast-track the release of the calendar, which begins in April 2022, to enable the Kenya Music Festival, Kenya National Drama Festival, Kenya Science and Engineering Fair, and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association to plan for the events early.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe ordered the resumption of sporting activities in schools in early March, paving the way for resumption of sporting activities in schools having been suspended in March 2020.
According to Macharia, there is limited time before the 2022/2023 Academic Year resumes, which if delayed will interfere with planning.
“We don’t have enough time. The ministry should have released it by now. There are many things involved in planning, like replacing those who left associations,” said Macharia.
He underscored the importance of extra-curricular activities, saying all-round development and self-fulfillment of students is realized through social, economic, technological and industrial support programmes.
“Some students don’t do well in curricular activities. These activities promote their individual development and self-fulfillment,” said Macharia.
Noting that sports will also enhance the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), he said learners should be engaged in out-of-class activities.
