President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued direction on how the reopening of schools in January 2021 should be conducted.
Speaking during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, the president reiterated his commitment to the education of the students.
He warned Kenyan parents against failing to comply with the January school reopening directive and tasked the Ministry of Interior to enforce the directive.
“To guarantee that no child is left behind I hereby direct and order as follows; That the Ministry of Interior shall, through all chiefs, account for all children within their jurisdictions.
“I direct that the Ministry of Education shall receive reports from all primary and secondary schools, regardless of the system of education, (and) details of any child or children who have not reported back to school as directed,” he stated.
He also ordered the Ministry of Education to publicise the education policy on school reentry so as to facilitate the readmission for those who may not be able to report due to pregnancy.
Parents have been divided on the January reopening of schools, with many arguing that the Covid-19 pandemic was still not contained.
Ahead of the resumption of learning, the National Treasury and Planning Post-Covid-19 Economic Recovery Strategy (2020-2021) has allocated a huge chunk of the Ksh929.5 billion to schools.
The government is set to offer facemasks, soap and sanitisers to learners at the cost of Ksh2.1 billion in a move that will come as a relief to parents.
Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha previously revealed that the government would supply two face masks to learners at the cost of Ksh.1.1 billion with only a few schools getting facemasks.
A total of Ksh500 million will be used to provide facemasks, soaps and sanitisers in primary schools in 2020, with Ksh600 Million set aside for 2021.
Secondary schools are set to get Ksh1 Billion for the supply of facemasks while Ksh800M will be used the following year.
To comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines on social distancing, the government has allocated Ksh28.8 billion to construct classrooms and refurbish previous ones to expand the learning space.
Secondary schools will use Ksh2.5 billion on building 100 tuition blocks in the next two years.
Primary schools have been allocated Ksh1.2 billion to construct classrooms and refurbished ablution blocks.
Water and sanitation facilities have been revamped in schools with Ksh5 billion set aside to curb the possible spread of Covid-19 pandemic by improving hygiene.
The government has committed Ksh10 billion to hire more Primary and Secondary school teachers in the next two years.
