- Kalonzo calls on the government to take equitable decisions that are in the best interest of all learners.
- Kalonzo says that it will be unfair for students in remote areas to sit exams and yet they can't access digital platforms.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka wants school reopening delayed until stakeholders agree on modalities.
He said it is a hard decision but Kenyans should learn from what other states have done to ensure the safety of children.
He added that the students' calendar should be reviewed, even if means being delayed so that all learners can have a fair competing ground.
Kalonzo criticized the current digital learning process, saying that it will be unfair for students in remote areas to sit exams this year since they have been unable to access the platfrom during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Children from remote areas have no access to digital learning and that subjecting them to exams with the rest who have been privileged to access digital learning will amount to marginalizing the already marginalized children,” Kalonzo said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We must take equitable decisions that are in the best interest of all learners.”
He called on the Ministry of Education and the task force working on modalities to reopen schools to be bold enough to take the hard decisions for the safety of Kenyan children.
“I urge the Cabinet Secretary for Education George Magoha, as well as the Head of Covid-19 Education Response Committee Sarah Ruto, to reach out to the leadership of the Kenya National Union of Teachers, the Universities Academic Staff Union and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, for an amicable solution to the stalemate concerning the reopening dates and other related modalities," Kalonzo said on Wednesday.
Kalonzo urged the Cabinet Secretary and the Head of the Covid-19 Education Response Committee to reach out to all stakeholders and strike a balance on all issues education.
He said the standoff on the modalities of reopening schools will greatly affect the already affected children.
“I make this call particularly for the sake of the millions of our pupils and students who stand to lose heavily if the brinkmanship and grandstanding between the two sides continue. Surely, they can come to a compromise and spare our young learners the push and pull, otherwise, learners will suffer," Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader also sent a message of condolence and comfort to the families who have lost their loved ones in the ongoing floods.
“On one hand, it has brought death and destruction, with more than 200 lives lost and thousands of homes destroyed. I relay my heartfelt condolences to all of you Kenyans who have lost family members, friends and/or relatives," he said.