Reopening of schools now pushed back from Monday to Thursday
The Ministry of Education has pushed schools reopening date from Monday to Thursday, August 18.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said in a statement on Saturday that the new date supersedes the ministry’s earlier communication on the reopening of basic education institutions.
The CS stated that they had resolved to push the reopening forward on further consultation due to the ongoing process of tallying of ballots foollowing Tuesday’s General Election.
“Following the conduct of our National Elections on Tuesday 9th August, 2022 the process of tallying of ballots is still ongoing. Therefore, following further consultations, I hereby convey the Government’s decision on the suspension of the re-opening of All Basic Education institutions with effect from Monday, 15th August, 2022 until Thursday 18th August, 2022,” said Magoha.
This is the second time within four days that the CS is postponing the reopening of schools due to the General Election that was held on Tuesday.
Schools had initially been scheduled to be opened on Thursday August 11, 2022, but on Wednesday the government announced that the reopening date had been pushed to Monday August 15, 2022 with the CS saying the changes had been occasioned by the expected delay in the vote tallying process.
The Ministry of Education ordered the early closure of all Basic Education Institutions to allow for adequate preparation and conduct of the General Elections.
The ballot tallying process kicked off on Wednesday evening and is expected to be complete by Tuesday next week. The electoral commission has a timeline of seven days from the day of the election, to declare the winner of the polls. The tallying process has run into the weekend, a situation which was not anticipated.
Schools are traditionally used as polling and tallying centres every election year. A gazette notice by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission indicated that almost 250 schools will be used as tallying centres.
However, Kenyans on Twitter KOT have since called him out for the change lamenting on school fees that was earlier paid. This is what they had to say;
Hii sasa zaidi
— Lucky Luke Bandika (@Luckylukebn) August 13, 2022
What would it cost Cs Magoha to just say Schools will be opened on a Date to be announced after Declaration of Final Presidential Results by IEBC
This flip flopping is Unacceptable.. #Magoha who has been running the Ministry of Education by FiatIt still won't happen on Thursday
— pan-afriCAN💫 (@HezMureithi) August 13, 2022
Probably just close indefinitely then announce 3 days prior to reopening? Ama we just want to issue statements every week? https://t.co/P2prAwSp7d
— Pancras (@Pancwise) August 13, 2022
Watupee discount ya school fees 😭 https://t.co/0NpVw5DJT1
— Hungerpangs™ 🇰🇪 🇪🇷 (@ShikoWAwanjish) August 13, 2022
Wazazi ndio nyasi hapa… Full fees clearance upon resumption of schools for three weeks and then closure for a week for third term to resume. https://t.co/WjMFDCwii7
— Ngeteach (@pterkips) August 13, 2022
@EduMinKenya I hope term dates will be revised after this. 3 weeks of learning have been lost. https://t.co/1KJKzIcqHf
— Asmaa Mohamed (@AsmaaMoha12) August 13, 2022
Tuambienu tu akuna masomo Kenya tutafutie watoto Wetu kazi😂😂
— Mc Toto Mose (@Mc_Toto_Mose) August 13, 2022
Magoha you are not even https://t.co/rEUfX12UB9 useme tu till further notice
— Walaka wa kukhu (@Mwenye_KitiA) August 13, 2022
This man Maghoha,🤭😳,am very sure that even 18th no opening, bado itasongezwa mbele. By the way, how can schools be opened on a Thursday ?
— Paul Kart. (@PaulKart8) August 13, 2022