Government  Releases Sh4 billion to institutions in Preparation for School Reopening Tomorrow

Government  Releases Sh4 bilelion to institutions in Preparation for School Reopening Tomorrow

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Government now releases Sh4 billion to institutions

Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha  has reiterated that the government is  fully prepared for the resumption of learning in all Kenyan schools tomorrow.

He further added that Sh4 billion has been released and the money will be sent to all public schools to aid in preparation and other school activities.

“Kenyan children will return to school on Monday, by the grace of God. The government has already released Sh4 billion for public primary schools and will reach their respective accounts by Monday or Tuesday while Sh14 billion for public secondary schools will (be sent) later,” said CS Magoha on Saturday.

He said this during his visit to Kibra Primary School located in Nairobi, where he was inspecting the delivery of more desks.

He also added that the government was making 625,000 desks as opposed to the initially projected number-250,000.

This annoncement comes when key education stakeholders have raised eyebrows on the state of preparedness for reopening of schools.

Magoha also said the government was in the process of looking for money to boost  private schools so that they can to their feet after the bearing the blunt of the pandemic.

The government, has also  availed Sh710 million for the rebuilding of classes and relocation of some schools that were greatly affected by floods last year in places like the Rift Valley.

Magoha on School Fees

Professor Magoha also directed teachers not to turn away  learners whose parents are unable to raise school fees.

“I challenge school owners to visit the parents of those children…to confirm inability to pay fees, identify them so that we can see how the government and well-wishers can help them get fees,”  said Magoha.

Magoha on Sanitizers and Liquid Soap

The CS also requested schools to use bar soaps, in the place of liquid soap.

He issued a tough warning to schools that are directing parents to purchase hand sanitisers.

Masks are Mandatory in Schools

Magoha, however, insisted that masks were mandatory.

“We have been talking about masks and the kind of masks needed for the past four months and parents should buy them. We are recommending reusable cotton masks with three layers. They are also cheap, selling between Sh20 to Sh50. For those privileged parents, you can buy a packet of surgical ones that correspond with the number of days in a term,” advised the CS.

According to Magoha, masks will be provided for approximately three million children in informal settlements.

“I thank Unicef, Ministry of Health, government and KCB Bank, which have bought seven million masks that will be distributed to most needy schools in slums,” he said.

Social Distancing in  Schools

On social distancing, the CS agreed that it will be a tall order. Hoeevrt, if learners are masked and regularly wash their hands, then learning will continue.

“Don’t come on Monday and start (saying) this desk is not one metre (distance); you will be talking to yourself. Our children must be in school and will be sitting closer than one metre,” he said.

Magoha on new admissions and transfer of learners

Magoha said that children transferring from private to public schools must be accommodated.

“We have given a directive that children from private schools will be taken by public schools and we will be reasonable enough not to transfer private school children to far off public schools,” he said.

This will help shelve the fears of parents who had children in private schools that closed in 2020.

Magoha Visits Precious Talent School in Dagoretti

Magoha later visited Precious Talent School in Dagoretti Constituency, which had been shut since September 2019 after a section of classrooms collapsed, killing seven pupils.

He said the ministry was happy with the progress of preparing the school for reopening but warned that learners will be transferred to the nearby Ngong Forest Primary School, a public institution if all requirements are not met.