•Before the resumption of learning, Kenya Secondary Schools head association chairman Kahi Indimuli had called for a consensus meeting with Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha over the fate of the school calendar.
•This was also in view of the forthcoming national exams together with the transition from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Image: The Star
Several parents from Nyeri now want the government to reconsider extending the school calendar to enable learners to recover the time lost during the two weeks break.
They say this is the only solution that will ensure the students can effectively conclude their syllabus before they transition to the next class.
“I am afraid that my first-born son who is a candidate may not have adequate time to revise for his upcoming examinations bearing in mind that he is an average student,” a taxi driver said.
“The students are learning under a very uncertain political environment following the filing of a presidential petition, making it almost impossible to fully concentrate on their studies.”
Before the resumption of learning, Kenya Secondary Schools head association chairman Kahi Indimuli had called for a consensus meeting with Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha over the fate of the school calendar.
This was also in view of the forthcoming national exams together with the transition from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency-Based Curriculum.
A secondary school teacher who sought anonymity said teachers are doing their best to tutor the learners despite the squeezed school term, to complete the second term syllabus before schools break in September.
She has however voiced her fears over the ability of schools to complete the syllabus owing to the shortened timeline and is urging for an extension of the school term to compensate for the time lost.
“I understand that the Ministry of Education wants to normalise the school calendar but some factors have to be considered. For instance, the performance of teachers and students,” the teacher said.
“As much as teachers are working hard amid pressure to complete the syllabus, students need time to comprehend and fully grasp what is being taught depending on their capabilities.”
The teacher said considering the political atmosphere, more time is required for students and teachers to adjust to the new dispensation and concentrate on finishing the syllabus.
Salim Ibrahim, another resident said the extension of the second term will be a reprieve for parents to have more time to source for school fees, especially due to the hard economy and constrained school calendar.
He is optimistic the government will rethink the matter and heed the many calls to extend the calendar by a few days.
“I am hopeful Magoha will heed the calls to extend the school calendar to give parents ample time to pay school fees. The extension will benefit learners who have not been able to cover their syllabus to do so before the end of the term,” he said.
The reopening of schools was first slated for August 11 before it was pushed to August 15 and finally to August 18.
Schools will close again on September 17 for the second term break and reopen on September 25 for the third term with national exams expected to take place from November.
The Kenya National Examination Council was scheduled to open the Grade Six assessment portal from August 15 to August 30 to enable learners transiting to the Junior Secondary School to select their schools of choice.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris