The government decision to reopen schools is not bad. The success or failure of this will, however, depend on how prepared schools are to receive learners.
The Health ministry has already put up measures to stem the spread of the disease through hygiene and distancing measures.
What Education CS George Magoha has done is similar to putting a finger into the water to test how hot it is.
Full reopening of the institutions will be determined by the outcome of the few who will be first to reopen.
In one month or so, we will know if subsequent classes should reopen.
What we need to ask ourselves is how well have schools observed the measures set to curb spread among the learners and staff?
Chances are that social distancing is not going to be a problem because we have taken a phased approach in reopening that will only consider less than half of the total school population.
But I am not sure how prepared schools are to ensure other measures, in particular hygiene practices, ensuring each learner has put on a mask and checking of temperature regularly.
This poses a challenge to the reopening of schools especially in the marginalised areas and slums.
We also need to reflect on whether the institutions have been adequately prepared to handle cases.
And I am not just talking about isolation of learners and quarantine but also identifying those who might be infected.
School leaders need to be aware of emerging Covid-19 issues such as stigma and psychological trauma.
So, the government should consider having mobile clinics for institutions that are far from health facilities.
Psychological help is needed so that students can fit back to the school set-up as soon as possible.
Also, full reopening of schools will complicate the already existing social distancing enjoyed courtesy of phased reopening.
At this time, the government needs to consider reopening the institutions in shifts so that when one lot is attending classes the other is away and vice versa.
This way, schools will achieve social distancing with the limited resources.
Kenyatta University lecturer Dr Teresa Mwoma spoke to the Star
