Preparations are underway in schools in Nairobi county ahead of school reopening since March when President Uhuru Kenyatta suspended learning in a bid to contain covid-19.
On Friday, October 2, fumigation of schools that were used as isolation centres in Nairobi kicked off, with school heads assuring parents that the learning institutions would be safe, once classes resumed.
"We want to make sure that all the 14 schools that were used as quarantine centres are fumigated and this is the start," Jared Obiero, the Regional Director of Education in Nairobi stated.
Additionally, the headteachers indicated that the schools had been marked with posters to create awareness of the disease among learners as well as show direction.
"When you walk around, you will see some of the posters instructing the students to stand or sit 1.5 meters apart in a bid to maintain social distance," Lucy Rukunga, principal St Georges High school stated.
On the other hand, the principal at Moi Girls School Nairobi, Margaret Njaga, indicated that the school had to reduce the number of students in a class to ensure that social distancing was maintained.
"The classes now will only have students between 25 and 30 so we may need to have two rooms for one class," she stated.
The Deputy Director at Idara ya Kuzuia Magonjwa- NMS, Dr. Thomas Ogallo, stated that the county government would ensure that the schools were linked to a health care facility in case of any emergency.
The school reopening dates are yet to be set and announced. Teachers, on the other hand, have since September 28, 2020, reported back to their respective institutions to adequately prepare for schools reopening as Covid-19 cases ease.
KNEC acting Chief Executive Mercy Karogo further directed all sub-county directors of education to collect registration nominal rolls from headteachers between October 4 and 9.
The school heads were further directed to submit registration details of candidates who will sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
On October 28, 2020, the president stated that Kenyans should not focus on when schools would reopen, but on how they would resume - in a manner that will protect the lives and health of children.
Uhuru noted that schools would only reopen after the Education and Health Ministry sufficiently guaranteed the safety of learners.
"The resumption of in-person learning must be predicated on strict adherence to the health protocols and guidelines as issued by the Ministry of Health," he stated.
