Headteachers' Appeal To Magoha Over Closure Of Schools
Initially, schools were to open on August 11 but the date has been changed to August 15 and then August 18.
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High school heads have called upon Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha to convene a meeting as they expressed fears over a potential crisis in the education sector.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KSSHA) chairman, Kahi Indimuli noted that the meeting was vital in planning the way forward to salvage the academic calendar that has been disrupted by the elections, among others.
He criticised the August 9 general elections for dealing a serious dent in their academic calendar and called for an urgent solution so that students can make up for the lost time.
Indimuli warned that postponing the reopening date for the third time would potentially disrupt preparations for the national exams in December. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) was expected to open a portal from August 15-30 for Grade 6 learners to select Junior High schools in readiness for placement.
“Students had started preparations for examinations, which is the most important period for candidates.
"If we delay further, the CS may need to call a meeting to discuss the way forward. We will see if we will be able to sit exams in December,” he noted.
All basic education institutions have been closed since Tuesday, August 2 ahead of the general elections, and the reopening date has been pushed twice. Initially, schools were to open on August 11 but the date has been changed to August 15 and then August 18.
“We were just recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to catch up with the lost time. These delays will make us lose all the gains we had made.
“Any further delay would mean we may not be ready to get the students ready for the December examinations and we may also end up delaying the transition,” Indimuli added.
Magoha on Wednesday, August 3 apologised to parents over the abrupt changes in the academic schedule which took many parents by surprise and led to them complaining on social media.
“For the small pain that I have caused you, I take full responsibility. As I take full responsibility, please try to understand that I love the children and I would be the last person to put their life or anything at risk,” the CS said.
The 2022 academic year consists of four national exams; the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), and the Grade Three and Six exams under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The calendar is different from the usual calendars given that it includes the CBC exams.
KCPE exams will be undertaken between November 28 and December 1, while KCSE will commence between December 1 and 23.
The Grade Six exam will be done between November 28-30, an exam which has already seen 1.27 million candidates registered to sit the first exam under the new curriculum which will see them join junior secondary schools.
KCSE students doing their exams. /FILE
