• For the affected schools, he said, alternative interventions were being explored to ensure that the learners do not lose out.
• Machogu said they are still receiving the names of the affected schools and will give a comprehensive list when they have it.
Image: MoE/X
At least 2,155 schools may not reopen for the second term on Monday, despite President William Ruto’s order that learning resumes on May 13.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on Thursday said up to five per cent of schools will not resume learning because the infrastructure has been badly damaged by floods.
He said the affected schools are spread across seven counties, including Tana River, Homa Bay and Kisumu.
The CS said these areas continue to experience flood-related challenges and will require a lot more repairs before learning resumes.
For the affected schools, Machogu said, alternative interventions were being explored to ensure learners do not lose out.
“We are trying to look at other mechanisms on how learning can take place in the few schools, which are less than five per cent and could be even less than two per cent of schools," he said after inspecting the situation in schools in Nairobi.
Initially, the schools were to reopen on April 29 but it was postponed indefinitely as the heavy rains disrupted life, hampering movement and destroyed school infrastructure.
And to cover for lost time, the CS said the second term will be extended to ensure student-teacher contact hours do not get affected.
“Particularly for Form 4 candidates, we will see how we can recover the time lost by extending [the second term] by a few days. They were expected to close for three weeks in August and we might minimise the number of days the schools will be closed,” he said.
Machogu said they are still receiving the names of the affected schools and will give a comprehensive list when they have it.
President Ruto announced on Wednesday that school would reopen on Monday as the rains were projected to have turned the corner.
"All parents are advised, on the assessment of weathermen and the Government of Kenya, it will now be safe,” he said.
“We have made adequate arrangements. We have asked members of Parliament and we have provided resources through NG-CDF for the repair of classrooms and other learning facilities across Kenya, therefore, all schools will be opened on Monday next week and parents must prepare their children to go to school," the President added.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the regional administration officials have been activated to closely monitor the safety of schools in the areas to ensure learning resumes uninterrupted.
This initiative is spearheaded by National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), alongside regional and county directors of education, he said.
Omollo said students, especially those in boarding schools, will begin their return between tomorrow and Monday.