The Ministry of Education has sounded a warning to all headteachers who have declined to let their students break for the holiday.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) in Mombasa, Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan noted that it was important for the students to spend some time with their parents and guardians.
According to the school calendar, the students were scheduled to break for a 10-day holiday beginning Friday, July 1.
In his speech, Jwan explained that it was still illegal for the schools to hold back students in school and offer tuition reiterating that it was banned by the state.
He further noted that the break was also aimed at allowing the children to relax after a packed school calendar.
“Give parents time to be with their children,” Dr Jwan told the teachers during the annual conference.
Reports have been making rounds that some of the schools had kept their students in class and continued to teach them against a directive by the government.
According to the Basic Education Act, holiday tuition remains outlawed across the country in both public and private institutions with perpetrators risking conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment not exceeding six months or both.
This comes weeks after Education CS George Magoha warned teachers from engaging in political activities or openly declaring their stance.
He cautioned the tutors against disrupting learning by engaging in open political discussions or attending political events at the expense of their duties.
"I will not sit and watch as my staff and teachers join what I call stupid partisan politics. It has to stop because children don't have political parties.
"I would want those who are tempted to still support parties privately. Do not go on an open display of who you support. My party is the party of children," Magoha stated at the time.
Schools are scheduled to resume from Tuesday, July 11 for second term, before they close again days to the August 9 polls for midterm .
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