SCHOOLS TO REOPEN ON OCTOBER 19, DR. SARAH RUTO-LED TASKFORCE DECIDES; EDUCATION BREAKING NEWS

SCHOOLS TO REOPEN ON OCTOBER 19, DR. SARAH RUTO-LED TASKFORCE DECIDES; EDUCATION BREAKING NEWS

It is now official that schools will reopen this year after all. This follows a major decision undertaken by a ten-member education committee spearheaded by Dr. Sarah Ruto that candidates and pre-candidates in both primary and secondary schools resume learning on October 19, 2020.

The committee was tasked by Education CS Professor George Magoha to advise the ministry on matters of schools reopening following a sudden shut down of all learning institutions in Kenya in March 2020.

If the taskforce’s resolutions are adopted, then all basic primary education institutions are likely to reopen their doors to form three and four students as well as standard eight and seven pupils one month from now.

OFFICIAL SCHOOLS’ REOPENING SCHEDULE (DATE) FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KENYA

Dr. Ruto’s committee has resolved that candidates and pre-candidates in both primary and secondary schools be the first batch to reopen.

Two weeks later, form one and two students will follow suit that is on November 2, 2020.

The lower cadre of primary school learners starting from pre-primary one to class six will also reopen on Monday, November  2, 2020.

On Sunday, September 20, 2020, the Daily Nation reported that the committee recommends a complete overhaul of the country’s academic calendar to accommodate the changes necessitated by the pandemic.

NEW 2020 SCHOOL CALENDAR: BELOW IS A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED 2020 SCHOOL CALENDAR (AS FROM OCTOBER 2020)

Among other recommendations, the second term should commence next month, October 2020, and end in late November.

The third term on the other hand shall commence in January 2021 and run until March 2021.

If adopted, these recommendations will serve as a sigh of relief for many Kenyan learners who felt greatly burdened by the idea of repeating classes next year.

2020 KCPE AND KCSE NATIONAL EXAMS TO BE ADMINISTERED IN APRIL 2021

On matters of national exams, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, KCPE, and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, KCSE will be administered in April 2021.

DR. SARAH RUTO’S COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT SCHOOLS REOPEN ON OCTOBER 19, 2020

The committee comprises ten members who play a major role in the education sector. Other than Dr. Sarah Ruto, KICD, the team comprises:

Kahi Indimuli, KESSHA Chair

Nicholas Gathemia, KEPSHA Chair

Peter  Ndoro, KPSA CEO

Nicholas Maiyo, KPA Chair

Augustine Muthigani-Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops

Jane Mwangi-Kenya Association for Independent International Schools

Nelson Makanda-National Council of Churches of Kenya

Sheikh Munawar Khan-Muslim Education Council

Peter Sitienei-Kenya Special Schools Heads Association chair

MAGOHA SET TO MEET EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS TO REVIEW TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCHOOLS REOPENING

Professor George Magoha has convened a meeting of all education stakeholders tomorrow on Monday, September 21, 2020, at the KICD offices, Nairobi to discuss the recommendations.

Tomorrow’s meeting will provide clear resolutions on when schools will reopen for face-to-face learning.

Members shall also cross-examine the practicability of the resolutions arrived at by the task force.

The resolutions will then be presented to the national consultative conference on Friday, September 25, 2020.

The ministry has already provided safety protocols for implementation by all learning institutions ahead of schools’ reopening.