High school heads have urged Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, to call for an urgent meeting citing a looming crisis in the education sector.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman, Kahi Indimuli, noted that a meeting is needed so that they can find a way forward and save the academic calendar that has been disrupted by the elections.
He pointed out that the August 9 General Election has dealt a dent in the calendar and an urgent solution was needed if students are to recover the lost time.
Indimuli further noted that anymore postponement of the reopening of schools could disrupt the preparations for the national examinations in December and the transition from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“Students had started preparations for examinations, which is the most important period for candidates.
"If we delay further, the CS may need to call a meeting to discuss the way forward. We will see if we will be able to sit exams in December,” Indimuli stated.
The head teacher's chairperson warned that the uncertainties had impacted candidates and Grade Six learners who are set to join Junior Secondary school as the first cohort of the CBC.
“We were just recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and trying to catch up with the lost time. These delays will make us lose all the gains we had made,” he remarked.
“Any further delay would mean we may not be ready to get the students ready for the December examinations and we may also end up delaying the transition.”
Noting that an early statement by CS Magoha had directed learners to report to school on Monday, August 15, Indimuli urged head teachers to be available and receive any students who may report today.
“We know some parents had been preparing to take students to school on Monday and may have already booked bus tickets for their children to travel, especially those in national and boarding schools away from home,” Indimuli stated.
“I am sure some parents haven’t heard about the postponement and we may be getting students arriving on Monday.”
