Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has issued new directives to schools and parents across the country ahead of the expected school reopening on Monday, May 6.
In a circular to directors of education, the CS stated that the rains have had negative impacts on schools, including causing damage to some school infrastructure, submerging buildings and sanitation facilities.
Also, the statement noted that the ongoing heavy rainfall had destroyed learning and teaching materials forcing schools to host Internally Displaced Persons.
As such, the Education CS asked parents to ensure that their children safely report to school on time considering the disruptions on transport activities.
“Ahead of the schools opening on May 6th, 2024, the Ministry has come up with measures to ensure the safety of learners and staff working in our Basic Education learning institutions,” read the statement in part.
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New Directives issued by Machogu
The ministry has instructed parents to ensure that their children safely report to school on time when taking their children to school.
At the same time, schools hosting flood victims will be vacated for learners to continue with their education as the ministry has ordered the National Government Administration Officers to find alternative facilities.
“National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to immediately identify alternative accommodation for affected persons to ensure the facilities are available for normal learning activities.
“The prevailing weather conditions pose accessibility challenges due to flash floods, swollen rivers and landslides thus affecting the transport system for learners to and from school,” added the statement.
On the other hand, field education officers have been instructed to come up with mitigation measures for schools whose infrastructure have been damaged.
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“Field education officers are hereby asked to come up with mitigation measures so that learning in these institutions in not disrupted,” added the statement.
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Suggested Mitigation Measures
Additionally, some of the measures suggested include sharing resources with neighboring schools, use of multi-grade and multi-shift model of providing education.
Also, where it is impossible to continue learning in the most severely affected Institutions, Boards of Management (BOMs) are advised to temporarily keep the school(s) closed until the situation improves.
“In the meantime, the management of these schools should come up with strategies to recover lost time when learning resumes,” explained the statement.
Because some of the sanitation facilities that are either submerged or floods in institutions pose a health risk, Machogu has directed that students are not hosted in such schools.
Instead, all Boards of Management (BoMs) of schools have been directed to convene meetings and submit reports to the CEB regarding the status of their respective schools and the reports be submitted by May 8, 2024.
“These reports should detail any damages incurred due to the adverse conditions and outline mitigation measures to ensure conducive learning environment.
“County Education Boards (CEBs) are directed to convene urgent meetings to assess the situation and submit comprehensive reports to the Cabinet Secretary by May 10th, 2024,” Machogu instructed.
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