Schools Shut Down after 15 Teachers Test Positive for Covid-19

Schools Shut Down after 15 Teachers Test Positive for Covid-19

15 teachers test positive for Covid-19 

It was a Wednesday like no other in two basic learning institutions after 15 teachers tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

This is the first time that new Coronavirus cases have been reported in schools since the commencement of a phased reopening.

Consequently, learning at Star of the Sea Primary School and Tononoka High School both located in Mombasa County has been suspended for 14 days after 15 teachers tested positive for Covid-19.

Confirming the news, Standard Digital established that four teachers at Star of the Sea Primary School, the school head included and 11 teachers at Tononoka High School tested positive for the virus.

Teachers Took Private Covid-19 Tests

When contacted, the teachers acknowledged that they began exhibiting symptoms of the disease prompting them to take private tests.

Mombasa Education County Commissioner has also confirmed the claims to KTN News that the two schools will be opened after two weeks.

The affected learners in both schools are however yet to be tested to determine the extent to which the pandemic has hit the two institutions.

KNEC Tests for Grade 4 and Class 8 Pupils Commence

This comes even as grade 4 and Class Eight pupils across the country  sat for their national assessment tests today.

Pupils of the affected schools will not be sitting for the tests currently being administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to assess the learners’ progress and identify knowledge gaps.

A spot check by our media team on Wednesday morning led to the revelation of technical hitches that befell some schools due to lack of funds for printing the tests in time as directed by KNEC.

 

The tests, which were pit off to pave way for yesterday’s Mashujaa Day Celebrations are meant to assess the pupils’ level of preparedness as learning resumes across the country.

KNEC 2020 Tinetable

According to the KNEC timetable, tests for Grade Four pupils will last between 10 minutes and two hours.

Standard Eight tests on the other hand will last between 40 minutes and three hours.

The partial reopening of schools in Kenya to Grade4, Class 8 and Form four students signals the beginning of the second term that will run for 11 weeks.

Learners will then break on December 23 with the candidates expected to resume classes again on January 4, 2021.

Class eight candidates will sit their KCPE exams from March 22 to 24 and Form Fours to sit their KCSE from March 25 to April 16, 2021.