By Staff Reporter
After throwing the cat among the pigeons with the missive asking teachers to report to work ahead of resumption of face-to-face learning, Ministry of Education was yesterday got flat footed by the president’s stand to have schools remain closed.
The move succinctly means that teachers will have to wait longer for learners as CS Magoha and other education stakeholder fine tunes reopening measures before issuing a roadmap.
Hopes and expectations of many Kenyans who were anxiously waiting for the head of state to announce precise dates for reopening, however, hit a brick wall.
The president warned parents and other education stakeholders against rushing to reopening learning institutions citing that measures must be put in place first.
The head of state said he will not gamble with the children’s health and safety even as he relaxes the Covid-19 containment measures on other sectors.
“Let us not fight over the lives of children. Let us think over the health and safety of the children first before we reopen,” said Uhuru.
Education Response Committee and Ministry of Education is, however, expected to get back to the drawing board and deliberate further on the matter.
Without touching on the resumption of physical learning dates, President Kenyatta said despite the Covid-19 curve dropping, learners will only be allowed to resume in person when their health is guaranteed.
“I therefore, direct the CS for Education to issue the calendar for the resumption of 2020 academic calendar if it is to be this year or 2021 strictly bearing the foregoing in mind,” said the president.
Meanwhile, school heads have decried the delayed release of funds to aid in preparation ahead of reopening.
However, President Kenyatta’s stand came as a rescue to the parents who are presently grappling with the financial crunch brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic that has taken toll on the economy.
