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In summary
The education cabinet secretary Professor George Magoha yesterday gave a directive to all schools in Kenya to observe the official reporting and departure time for learners.
He reiterated that all schools whether public or private must comply with the official school hours.
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He said this when he visited the tragic scene at Precious Talents Top Academy yesterday where a building collapsed, killing at least seven pupils.
The school building collapsed at around 8.00 A.M. as the upper primary pupils-standard 5-8 were beginning their morning lessons.
BURDENED LEARNERS
The Kenyan government in 2015 issued an official gazette notice directing schools on official operating hours.
This was done after the government realized that schools were burdening learners by putting undue pressure on them to report to school early.
This further subjected the learners to more mental torture following extensive teaching.
OFFICIAL LEARNING HOURS
According to the Basic Education Act regulations (2015),
The official operating hours for all public and private institutions is 8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
The official learning days shall be on Monday- Friday.
Co-curricular activities shall be carried out as from 3.30 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.
No day schools should oblige learners to report before 7.15 a.m.
BOARDING SCHOOLS
All boarding schools will operate as follows:
Official learning hours shall be 8.00 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.
Co-curricular activities should be conducted from 3.30 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.
As from 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. learners shall engage in their self-directed activities for normal school days
Monday to Friday preps shall run as from 7.30-9.30 p.m.
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The learners are expected to have a good sleep from 9.30 p.m. – 6.00 a.m.
Supervised routine activities like washing and cleaning should be done as from 6.00 a.m.-8.00 a.m.
No boarding learning facility should send away unaccompanied learners after 9.00 a.m.
CONDOLENCES
Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta has joined Kenyans in sending his deepest sympathies to families and friends of the fallen heroes of Precious Talents Top Academy in Dagoretti.
Professor George Magoha has also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families and friend aggrieved by yesterday’s disaster that claimed seven innocent lives.
He did this on behalf of the government and his behalf. The seven were pupils of Precious Talent Primary School in Nairobi.
He further says that he was on official duty in Kisumu when he got wind of the tragedy.
THE PRECIOUS TALENTS TOP PRIMARY SCHOOL TRAGEDY
He regrets the loss of seven pupils whose future was promising.
Sixty-four survivors of the tragedy are still admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Sixty-two of these learners have got soft tissue injuries while two pupils need more specialized medical care.
At least 600 pupils have undergone safety checks at St. Mary’s Catholic Centre to ensure they are of sound health.
The government officials who visited KNH yesterday have confirmed that the learners admitted at the hospital are in a stable condition.
The school is officially registered and has an enrollment of 800 pupils.
In the meantime, the rest of the pupils are expected to stay at home for the next four days as the government puts in place special measures to ensure safety within the learning facility.
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