Due to a classroom shortage, Turkana pupils and students will learn outside under the shade of acacia trees.
Turkana Education director Peter Magiri said on Tuesday that teaching will take place outdoors and enclosures will be built under the trees.
He said social distancing cannot be achieved easily in Turkana because of an acute classroom shortage, a countrywide problem.
“We have done a lot of preparation for reopening schools but we are still faced with challenges of social distancing caused by lack of classrooms, shortage of water, face masks and lack of teachers,” Magiri he told the press in his office.
Magiri said he and teachers agreed that the areas under acacias will be converted to classrooms.
Teachers sit in the shade during their meetings.
Magiri said it will not be a big a challenge for pupils to study under trees because they are used to the environment.
He deplored the water shortage in some schools, saying that it will be hard for students to wash their hands regularly to combat the spread of Covid-19.
“We have put washing points in schools but we still lack water. Most schools don't have running water and it's going to be a big challenge," the Education director said.
He advised that schools lacking water to buy hand sanitiser. He also urged the county to deliver water to school in water boozers.
Magiri said the schools are identifying families who cannot afford masks for children so the government can provide them.
(Edited by V. Graham)
