Magoha Orders Closure of Schools From Tomorrow

“As you are aware, Kenya is scheduled to conduct its national elections on Tuesday, August 9 2022. Therefore, following consultation, I hereby convey the Government’s decision on the immediate closure of all basic education institutions from Tuesday 2 until Wednesday, August 10 to ensure that preparations and conduct of upcoming elections is carried out seamlessly,” Prof Magoha said in a statement.

"Schools and parents are advised to ensure that learners from all basic education institutions proceed on their half-term break effective Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and resume on Thursday, August 11, 2022."

Magoha further affirmed that the communication superseded (replaced) the prior communication where the Ministry had set Saturday, August 6, as the deadline for all schools to close ahead of the polls.

He had announced on Sunday, July 31 during an address at the Rev. Gitau Secondary School that schools would close for 10 days pending the atmosphere leading up to the release of the results of the general elections.

"I would like to urge principals who still have students at home to immediately bring them back because we are breaking again on August 6 and we shall not open until 15th. If you want to engage the parents then do so when the children are still at home so that if there is a school fee to be paid, it should be paid then," he added.

The CS however noted that the dates were tentative and subject to change in the event the elections go into a repeat. He also warned of the national examinations calendar being affected.

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.

The CBC Grade 6 exam will make up for 40 per cent of the total score while the Grade 4, 5 and 6 school-based assessments will take the rest, being 60 per cent.

KCSE students doing their exams. /FILE