Govt Says No Extension of Term II Despite Delays in Schools' Reopening

President William Ruto issuing the KCPE and KPSEA National Examinations at the Kikuyu Township Primary School, Kiambu County on October 30, 2023.
President William Ruto issuing the KCPE and KPSEA National Examinations at the Kikuyu Township Primary School, Kiambu County on October 30, 2023.
PCS

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has directed schools to maintain the school calendars as had earlier been set by the Ministry despite the extended closure that was necessitated by the floods.

In a circular to school heads, Kipsang instead directed schools to devise a plan to recover the time lost due to delays in schools' reopening.

The Ministry also asked schools to adjust learning hours should the ongoing nationwide heavy rains affect learning.

Schools have, however, been directed to maintain the 6 am to 6 pm guidelines as far as school transportation is concerned.

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu in a meeting with UoN officials on April 4, 2024
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu in a meeting with UoN officials on April 4, 2024
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Ezekiel Machogu

The latest directive by the PS comes after Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu noted that the government would consider extending the second term owing to the extended closure.

He had indicated that the government would consider reducing the August holiday by a few days to accommodate the coverage of the syllabus.

"It has been two weeks (extended closure of schools). We will look at it, particularly for those in Form Four, and see how we can recover by extending the term for a few days," Machogu stated on Thursday.

Nonetheless, it was revealed that the latest changes were issued upon the request of education stakeholders who noted that reducing the term two holiday dates would affect the music festival which is slated for August.

Schools are set to reopen on Monday, May 13 after forced closure that was necessitated by the floods.

The students will learn for six weeks before breaking for the half-term from June 20 to June 23.

Learners will resume for the second half of the second term on August 5. The August holiday is slated to take up three weeks.

Schools across the country will resume the third term on Monday, August 26.

Floods
A man assisting a family move to safety through a flooded Nairobi estate.
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