Schools Reopening: Joe Ageyo Hits Out at CS Magoha on Citizen TV [VIDEO]

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Photo collage of Citizen TV director Joe Ageyo (left) and Education CS George Magoha (right)
File

Citizen TV's  Editorial Director Joe Ageyo expressed displeasure with the measures undertaken by Education CS George Magoha towards the reopening of schools.

Ageyo made his analysis while acting as a panelist on the News Gang show on Thursday, August 20.

The seasoned anchor argued that Magoha had put the future of students in the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic by stating that schools would reopen when the curve flattens. Magoha scrapped off the 2020 academic year and cancelled national exams, directing schools to reopen in January 2021. 

"How is it logical that they did not wait for the curve to flatten before allowing people to go back to their offices or markets, places of worship and public places. Our children are mingling with other Kenyans out in the public," Ageyo stated.

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Education CS George Magoha inspects the level of preparedness of Siaya Institute of Technology, Siaya County on Wednesday, August 19, 2020
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He added that the government had found ways to safely reopen other places yet schools remained closed. 

The pundit questioned what excuse the Education Ministry would issue if the virus curve had not flattened by 2021. 

According to him, despite schools being a fertile ground for the spread of Coronavirus, the government should come up with other measures on how to safely reopen schools rather than waiting for the curve to flatten.

"Have you heard anything on safely reopening of schools? Shouldn't the Ministry be giving us a blow to blow account of what they are doing to get schools ready? How much money has been sent to schools to expand the infrastructure? How much has been set aside for water and other provisions that might be needed?

"That is not what we are hearing. Instead, the government has resigned to fate. It is clear that we have new information on the virus, such as children between ages 5 -18 not being at high risk of contracting the virus," Ageyo stated.

On Thursday, August 20, the World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, urged African schools to reopen. The director stated that the continent’s youths will suffer from prolonged closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, yet schools can be safe havens for students. 

Moeti cited poor nutrition, stress, increased exposure to violence and exploitation and teenage pregnancies which are on a rise. Only six African countries have fully opened schools according to WHO. 

File image of KCSE students sitting an exam
File image of KCSE students sitting an exam
File

Watch Joe Ageyo's remarks on schools reopening

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