Good morning,
The latest directive by Education CS George Magoha to reopen schools on October 12 for Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students has without a doubt elicited negative criticism from a majority of Kenyans.
According to the exam calendar released by the Ministry of Education, the students returning to school on Monday will continue with learning until December 23, 2020, when the second term will come to an end before proceeding for a one-week Christmas break.
Inasmuch as Magoha is rightly trying to revive the education sector following six months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the disapproval against the CS is anticipated given the short turnaround for parents and learners to prepare for resumption.
Secondly, it is debatable whether the learning institutions, especially our public schools, are in any way prepared to receive learners given the tough mandatory precautionary COVID-19 measures Magoha announced to curb the further spread of the deadly virus.
More importantly, how feasible will it be for parents and guardians who are struggling to put a meal on the table be able to raise school fees within a week’s notice?
Magoha stated that social distancing will be a challenge to monitor but should not be used to keep any child away from school. Sadly though, many learners could be locked out of schools by being unable to raise fees and other expenses.
Do you think Magoha consulted widely before making the decision to reopen schools next week? Should the government rethink this new directive and give parents and learners ample time to prepare?
Here are the stories making headlines on Opera News today:
Why Uhuru Allowed CS Magoha to Reopen Schools
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Cabinet adopted Education CS George Magoha’s crash program, commencing the start of the phased reopening of Kenyan schools.
Magoha directed Grade Four, Class 8 and Form Four students to report to schools on Monday, October 12.
I Cannot Be Intimidated — Defiant DP Ruto
Bullish Deputy President William Ruto has urged the police to stop intimidating his allies and interfering with his functions.
Speaking on Tuesday at his Karen residence during a meeting with Narok county leaders, Ruto said there is a trend of politically instigated violence.
Keroche Family Fearful of ‘Influential’ Omar Lali Over Tecra’s Death Inquest
Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja has opposed the DPP’s application to move an inquest into her daughter’s death to Lamu.
Through her lawyer James Orengo, Karanja told the court that her family is afraid of Omar Lali, the former boyfriend of her daughter, Patricia Tecra Muigai.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday jetted back into the country to a bagful of problems, the main being Jubilee chaos and political antagonism that led to the death of two people in his Central backyard after Jubilee’s National Management Committee (NMC) resolved to kick out his deputy William Ruto from the party. What do you think the Head of State should do to curb the current political climate that is threatening to tear the country apart just two years to the end of his term?