• The CS said any change in the reopening of learning centres will be in the interest of the children.
• On Tuesday, a parent moved to court in a bid to compel the Education CS to reopen schools for the third term.
Education CS George Magoha has said colleges may reopen earlier than the scheduled date of January 2021.
Magoha attributed this decision to the declining trend in Covid-19 numbers.
“We have stopped reopening of universities and colleges, but should the situation change we shall look at them again,” Magoha said.
He said earlier, government had issued September as the month for reopening of colleges, but this was later changed.
“We were to open colleges by September, but our assessment showed that the level of preparedness was slow and the Covid-19 cases had spiked,” Magoha said.
The CS said education officials are “looking at them again and if the situation changes,” some colleges may reopen.
He said of most concern are teachers training colleges which should be opened ahead of next year's May intake to help train teachers who will be key in the Competency-Based Curriculum.
“We will open learning institutions when we are sure they are safe...we have to ensure water, sanitisers are available and even if it includes providing face masks by governments in some cases when possible,” he said.
He said the decision to stop reopening in September and the new one to check on the status will consider the safety of all learners and teachers in institutions.
The CS said any change in the reopening of learning centres will be in the interest of the children.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado said the education sector should factor in cases of the backlog of children who will be joining ECDEs next year and they will have a two-year backlog after a whole calendar year was scrapped off.
“While others in learning institutions will resume classes, in ECDEs those who were not promoted will meet new admissions which will cause a backlog,” he said.
He said despite schools closing for children to stay at home to avoid the spread of Covid-19, parents have left their children to roam free.
“We are keenly following teachers colleges for September reopening as they will help train and be ready for trainers of trainees for those who will have the first intake on the new curriculum next year,” Magoha said.
On Tuesday, a parent moved to court in a bid to compel the Education CS to reopen schools for the third term.
Joseph Aura argued as a parent since the state ordered for closure of schools due to Covid-19 in March, his kids and others across the country have been at home indefinitely.
“I have lodged this proceedings as a parent on behalf of my children and on behalf of millions of voiceless children enrolled similarly in learning institutions across the country,” Aura says.
The father of three says in-person learning is the best when it comes to the education of children rather than virtual or any other method.
In July, Magoha said all schools in Kenya will remain closed until next January because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Final year exams, usually taken in October and November, were also cancelled.
Magoha said students would repeat a year as schools had closed in mid-March, three months after the school calendar had begun.