Education CS George Magoha has warned parents against agitating for the reopening of schools before Kenya is declared Covid-19 free.
The CS spoke while assessing the level of preparedness of Sagana Institute in Nyeri County on Friday, September 4.
Magoha disclosed that he lost a relative who succumbed to Covid-19 and wouldn't want to put the health of students at risk.
"Have we hit 5% positivity rate? No, we haven't. The World Health Organisation stated that we have to achieve 5% for two consecutive weeks.
"Why are you in a hurry yet the pandemic is coming down? I have lost a relative who died of Covid-19. What about you? We have seen even leaders who have been hospitalised for suffering this disease," Magoha stated adding that no one should joke around with the criticality of the disease.
He warned parents against misinterpreting his remarks when he stated that schools would open any time.
Magoha clarified that studies would only resume when the curve flattens and no one can predict its end.
"If everything goes on well, my guess is as good as yours. If it ends this month then why shouldn't we inform the President and the Cabinet to consider reopening if we have all the necessary strategies in place?" Magoha wondered.
He added that if schools reopen within 2019, then KCSE and KCPE students may sit for the national exam and await results.
The CS, however, did not explain how exams would be set as he had constantly opposed setting exams without students completing the curriculum.
Magoha added that virtual learning was only a temporary solution to schools closure, arguing that students were better placed attending physical classes than the online studies.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary-General Akelo Misori on Wednesday, September 2 argued that the resumption of schools in 2019 would adversely affect the school calendar.
Misori highlighted that the second term would run until January 2021, which is a policy shifter. This was after International Centre for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) on Monday, August 31 pushed CS Magoha to reopen schools.
Watch Magoha speak on schools reopening
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