Teachers and parents want Education CS George Magoha to adjust the school calendar after learning was disrupted by the concluded elections.
Represented by their respective associations, education stakeholders lamented that students are likely to perform poorly in the upcoming national elections hence a need to revise the school calendar.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) chairperson Kahi Indimuli, argued that the closure of schools delayed the preparation of candidates for the national exams.
The chairperson also warned against further delays adding that the government would be compelled to reschedule the national exams.
“We are in the period of preparing the candidates for the national exams and the closure affects the final preparation for the candidates,” Indimuli urged.
“If we delay further, maybe the minister may be forced to call a stakeholder meeting to discuss further whether we will be ready to sit for the exams in December 2022,” he added.
On his part, National Parents Association chairperson Nicholas Maiyo stated that the prolonged stay at home for children will affect their performance in school.
“The consequence of children staying at home longer is that their performance in exams is poor. We are asking for an equal number of days to those interfered with by the electoral period,” said Maiyo.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha announced an indefinite closure of all institutions of learning on August 1 to pave way for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) preparations for the polls, setting the resumption date for August 11.
The CS later postponed the opening dates to Thursday, August 18. A section of parents had questioned the manner in which Magoha altered school opening and closing dates in the recent past.
However, the CS asked for forgiveness arguing that the decisions were in the best interest of the school-going children.
“I know that people are very unhappy that the schools were closed abruptly. Let me apologise on behalf of the government,” Magoha responded after the uproar.
On Wednesday, August 17, he assured parents that students would stay in school rather than head home in the event of a repeat election. His sentiments came a day after Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, stated that he would challenge the election results in court.
