The Ministry of Education in Kenya has announced that the 2020 academic year will be considered lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic hence all primary and secondary schools will now reopen in January next year.
The Kenya Education CS Prof. George Magoha, said the decision was arrived at following consultations with all industry stakeholders and putting into consideration COVID-19 mitigation measures.
According to the CS, the stakeholders resolved to shelve the initial plan to begin phased reopening in September this year after parents expressed reservations about sending their children to school occasioned by the spike in coronavirus cases.
Universities were also urged to consider phased reopening but only upon achieving physical and social distancing in halls of residence, lecture rooms and dining areas.
Until then, the CS said, they “should continue holding virtual learning and graduations for students who have successfully completed their programmes and met graduation requirements set by their respective Senates.”
In Uganda, the Education Minister, Mrs Janet Kaguta Museveni made it clear in her address last week that schools are not about to open and urged universities to hold online learning.
Will the reopening of schools in Uganda be pushed to 2021 too? We will keep you posted.
