Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has issued a directive for schools to retain students who arrived at school during the school reopening chaos on Monday.
The students who reported to schools on Sunday, April 28 night, have already been in school for five days and will remain there at least until the end of next week as the government finds a way for the safe reopening of schools.
This development followed confusion after President William Ruto ordered the indefinite postponement of school reopening, on Friday, May 3. Many parents were concerned about whether or not the students in schools would be allowed to head home.
Machogu's orders come after a group of students arrived at school on Monday, despite the confusion caused by the last-minute announcement of the postponement of the school opening.
Due to the ongoing heavy rains across the country, the government initially pushed back school opening dates by a week, with Machogu issuing a statement to that effect around 1 a.m. on April 29.
CS Machogu in a circular on Friday evening stated, “In the case of learners that had already reported to the school, the school management shall retain them in school and ensure their safety and security, except only where the conditions allow for the safe return to their homes."
President Ruto, in a national address on Friday afternoon, pointed out the severity of the weather conditions, stating that Kenya may face its first cyclone, Cyclone Hidaya, in the next few days, forcing schools to close until further notice.
Machogu instructed all boards of management of schools across the country to promptly convene meetings and compile comprehensive reports regarding the current status of their respective institutions.
These reports are required to detail all relevant matters, including any damage inflicted upon school infrastructure as a result of the adverse weather conditions, as well as proposed mitigation measures.
The deadline for the submission of these reports has been set for May 8, 2024.
Additionally, County Education Boards have been instructed to convene urgent meetings to assess the overall situation within their respective areas. These assessments will enable them to generate comprehensive reports, which must be submitted to the Cabinet Secretary by May 10, 2024.
Regional Directors of Education have been tasked with providing regular updates on the status of learning institutions within their jurisdictions. These updates will be facilitated through provided templates, ensuring consistency and accuracy in reporting across different regions.
Furthermore, field education officers operating in areas where schools are accommodating displaced persons have been instructed to collaborate closely with local National Government Administration Officers.
Their primary objective is to identify alternative accommodation options for affected individuals, thereby ensuring that school facilities remain available for normal learning activities.
