Asher
New Lister
LONG POST ALERT 
RE-OPENDING OF SCHOOLS DUE TO COVID-19
The Chairperson,
Covid-19 Task Force for Re-opening of Schools,
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)
P.O. Box 30231-00100, Nairobi.
RE: RECOMMENDATION ON RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS DUE TO COVID-19 CRISIS
SUMMARY
* SCHOOL TO RE-OPEN FOR CANDIDATES ONLY (CLASS 8 AND FORM 4) ON 31ST AUGUST, 2020
* KCPE TO BE HELD FROM 2ND FEBRUARY, 2021 AND KCSE FROM 5TH FEBRUARY, 2021
* PRIMARY CLASSES FROM P1, P2, GRADE 1-4, CLASS 5,6 AND 7 TO REPEAT ACADEMIC YEAR AND RE-OPEN ON 8TH FEBRUARY, 2021
* SECONDARY FORMS 1, 2 AND 3 TO REPEAT ACADEMIC YEAR AND RE-OPEN ON 8TH MARCH, 2021
INTRODUCTION
On 15th March, 2020, the Government of Kenya ordered the closure of all schools and learning institutions as measure to combat the spread of Covid-19 pandemic that has been sweeping the world since December, 2019.
My recommendations on steps needed to be taken in order to re-open schools for the over 15 million pupils and students in both public and private primary/secondary school is hereby submitted as per request of the Taskforce chairperson for Kenyans to submit written memoranda to the Secretariat.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
It is already well documented that Covid-19 pandemic is the most dangerous health/social/economic crisis to face the world since World War II and the worst crisis to face Kenya since independence. It is the duty of all parents to protect their children from the dangerous of Covid-19, thus the reason the Government saw it fit to close all schools on 15th, March, 2020 since children are safer at home then in congested environment such as the “100% transition” from Class 8 to Form 1 in Term 1 of 2020.
RED-LINE FOR OPENING SCHOOLS
The Government should NOT allow schools to re-open under any circumstance if the Covid-19 infection is still on the raise and community spread is continuing in certain areas such as Nairobi (Eastleigh, Kawangware, etc), Mombasa (Old Town), Namanga, Migori, Mandera, etc.
School-going children live in these areas and any re-opening of schools can resulting to spreading of Covid-19 to other pupils and students, who will have to walk or use public transport to both day and boarding schools. Children under 18 years of age are getting Covid-19 in Kenya and medical research has shown they can spread the disease.
Although the Ministry of Health is undertaking mass testing on average (2,000 tests daily in May), the number done so far (46,984 by 19/5/2020) is still very low which is only 0.1% of Kenya’s 47 million people. The number of infections is growing as Kenya gets more cases and has reaching the landmark 1,000 mark with 50 deaths. Parents will be reluctant to allow their children to attend schools with such alarming figures, unless a vaccine for Covid-19 is found or infections reduced.
But development of a vaccine may take as long as 18 months or never found and the world will have to live with the disease just like HIV/Aids, malaria, etc. This means that our children will have to one day go back to school but keeping in mind precautions like social distancing, face masks, washing hands.
Kenya will have to step up testing in order to “flattening the curve” (slowing the spread of the epidemic so that the number of people requiring care at a time is reduced, and the health care system does not exceed its capacity).
Hence “flattening the curve” is a red-line in order to decide wheather or not to re-open schools. Even if it takes another one or two years, school should NOT re-open until the curve is flattened. Health officers should be ready at school gates to check temperature of all pupils/student entering or leaving DAILY, wearing of masks and ensure soap and clean water/hand-sanitizers are made available at all 24,000 schools in Kenya.
SCHOOLS SHOULD ONLY BE RE-OPENED WHEN THE ‘CURVE IS FLATTENED’
Hopefully the time the Government deems it safe to lift the overnight curfew and cessation of movements into and from Nairobi, Coast and Mandera (if no further restrictions are imposed), the re-opening of schools can be considered.
In order to keep social distancing in schools, the re-opening should be staggered, giving priority to exams candidates for KCPE and KCSE, ensuring they are tested for Covid-19 before reporting to school as well as teachers and staff. If a candidate carries the disease to a school, then it will become a quarantine centre for next 14 days and even parents would not be able to visit and/or remove their children.
The candidates going to a boarding school should be transported by the school’s own bus or buses hired by the Government to avoid them mixing with the public especially in matatus and public buses. The schools should be sensitized, before the candidates arrive, especially if they were being used as a quarantine center and unauthorized persons prohibited from entering. Special care must be taken in the toilets in schools as they have proved to be dirty and not properly cleaned and can be a potential source of Covid-19, more so if water supply is not adequate. Boarding schools should ensure they have a qualified nurse on duty 24/7 and a dedicated sick bay or sanatorium which can be isolated in case of cases of Covid-19.
Dormitories should have fewer beds to ensure spacing of more at least 2 metres between each other. This will mean building more dorms or using the school hall as a dormitory if funds or time does not allow. If the school hall is also used as dinning hall then the students should eat in classes while more dorms are built.
WHY KCPE AND KCSE MUST BE POSTPONED
There is no law that says both KCPE and KCSE exams cannot be postponed if there is an emergency like in the case of Covid-19 or even held in another year. Only the Ministry of Health should have the FINAL say when it will be suitable to hold BOTH exams as the health of the candidates comes first. Since a school year lasts average of 8 months for Primary and 9 months for Secondary, the first term of 2020 lasted 10 weeks and had only 3 weeks to run, which would have been used for revision and end of term exams.
Hence, we can assume the first term of 2020 does not need to be repeated by candidates so that leaves 13 weeks (excluding a 1 week half-term break) in second term, a 3 week August holiday and a 9 week third term (for Primary) and 10 weeks for Secondary. (There is no half term break in third term for both Primary and Secondary). KCPE was due to start on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020 while KCSE was due to start on Friday, 6th November, 2020.
Class 8 and Form 4 candidates will need a minimum of 5 months to prepare for the exams excluding a two week break to rest. My proposal is that both candidates report to school as soon as the Ministry of Health deems it safe for them to do so and necessary precaution for their safety and transport have been made as described above. If the Government gives go-ahead for re-opening of schools for exam candidates ONLY, then the 5 month timeline plus the 2 week holiday will run from that date and this timeline will determine the starting dates for KCPE and KCSE.
For example, if the re-opening date is set for Monday, 31st August, 2020 then the KCPE will take place on Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021 until Thursday, 4th February, 2021. KCSE will start on Friday, 5th February, 2021 and continue throughout month of February. KCSE practical exams will take place during January, 2021. The 2 week break for Christmas will take place from Monday, 21st December, to 4th January, 2021.
Note: The schools using the British Curriculum were due to sit their end of year exams in June,2020 and were on Third term, hence will need to adjust their academic calendar accordingly when the Government announces the opening of schools.
RE-OPENING OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR NON-CANDIDATES
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, and closure of schools on 15th March, 2020, a decision has to be made to REPEAT the entire academic year for pupils in Primary schools except for 2020 KCPE candidates who will sit for the exams in February, 2021 and move on to Form 1 in May, 2021. Since only 10 weeks were used during 1st term in 2020, and young children have little capacity to re-call what was learnt over one year later, hence the need to start afresh.
Even the so-called “On-line learning” being done by some schools cannot replace face-to-face interaction with teachers, and in any case, it is not recognized by the Government. It should be treated as homework or remedial studies so Kenyan parents should face the reality that their children will have to the REPEAT 2020 academic year in 2021. Parents of children who were to enter Pre-primary 1 in 2021 will have to wait another year as it would be risky to expose such young children (aged 4) to Covid-19.
Under the set timelines, the opening of Primary schools will take place on Monday 8th February, 2021 for Pre-Primary 1 & 2, Grade 1 to Grade 4 and Class 5, 6 and 7 under a staggered system to avoid over-crowding and ensure social distancing. Young children have little awareness of social distancing hence the need to stagger those present on a single day within the school considering some have as many as 3,000 pupils.
I propose the staggering will be as follows to avoid all children being present in school at the same time:-
MONDAY-CLASS 5, 6 AND 7
TUESDAY-P1, P2, GRADE 1,2,3,4 AND CLASS 7
WEDNESDAY-CLASS 5, 6 AND 7
THURSDAY-P1, P2, GRADE 1,2,3,4 AND CLASS 7
FRIDAY-CLASS 5,6 AND 7
To make up for loss of 3 days for the lower classes (G 1,2,3,4) their learning time will be extended in the afternoon up to 4 pm (most public school pupils in lower classes do not attend afternoon sessions). For the loss of 2 days, the learning time for Class 5 and 6 will be extended up to 5 pm. Being pre-candidates for KCPE in 2022, the Class 7 will attend on all 5 days. The Ministry of Education will then set new school term dates for 2021 due to late opening of schools.
RE-OPENING OF SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR NON-CANDIDATES
I propose re-opening of Secondary schools for Form 1, 2 and 3 (repeating 2020 academic year) will be on Monday, 8th March, 2021 to give time for Form 4 to complete KCSE and exit the school. This will allow social distancing as Form 4s will not be present. To make up for loss of time, it is proposed that the 1st Term, 2021 runs for 12 weeks until Friday, 28th May, 2021 (including Easter break).
After the 2020 KCPE results are released and Form 1 selections made, the new Form 1s (2020) will be required to report by Wednesday 7th April, 2021 (after Easter holidays). Having 2 sets of Form 1s in the same school will appear unusual, but this is the only solution to avoid KCPE candidates of 2020 from repeating Class 8. This will also mean that KCSE of 2024 will have more candidates than usual.
School holidays will be for only 2 weeks from Saturday, 29th May, 2021 and open on Monday, 14th June, 2021 for 2nd Term, which will then run for 10 weeks (without half-term) and schools then close for August holidays on Friday, 20th August, 2021. This will be a 3 week holiday until Monday, 13th September, 2021 when they open for 3rd Term. Third term will run for 10 weeks (with 1 week half term break from 17th to 24th, October, 2021) until Friday, 26th November, 2021. Since there will be no Form 4 students, the 3rd Term can be extended until end of November, 2021.
CONCLUSION
While repeating an Academic year is unprecedented in Kenya’s education history, but these are unusual times which requires unusual action to keep our children and teachers safe. Having no KCPE in 2021 should not be taken as out of the norm as it happened once before in 1984 when the 8-4-4 system was introduced and no KCPE was held that year as the then Class 7 moved on to the newly created Class 8 and sat for KCPE in 1985. This resulted in no KCSE exams in 1988 as they were no Form 4 students just as there will be no KCSE in 2025.
My proposal has the aim of ensuring social distancing while ensuring the 2020 exams candidates sit for their exams within the shortest and safest time possible with minimal risk. This will continue the policy of the Ministry of Education of having only exams candidates in school during duration of the exams and have academic year run for full calendar year.
Let us not take risks with the lives of our children by re-opening schools too soon. After all, Education CS Prof George Magoya told Kenyans recently "Dead people do not do exams".
Submitted.
Hillary Ang’awa
RE-OPENDING OF SCHOOLS DUE TO COVID-19
The Chairperson,
Covid-19 Task Force for Re-opening of Schools,
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)
P.O. Box 30231-00100, Nairobi.
RE: RECOMMENDATION ON RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS DUE TO COVID-19 CRISIS
SUMMARY
* SCHOOL TO RE-OPEN FOR CANDIDATES ONLY (CLASS 8 AND FORM 4) ON 31ST AUGUST, 2020
* KCPE TO BE HELD FROM 2ND FEBRUARY, 2021 AND KCSE FROM 5TH FEBRUARY, 2021
* PRIMARY CLASSES FROM P1, P2, GRADE 1-4, CLASS 5,6 AND 7 TO REPEAT ACADEMIC YEAR AND RE-OPEN ON 8TH FEBRUARY, 2021
* SECONDARY FORMS 1, 2 AND 3 TO REPEAT ACADEMIC YEAR AND RE-OPEN ON 8TH MARCH, 2021
INTRODUCTION
On 15th March, 2020, the Government of Kenya ordered the closure of all schools and learning institutions as measure to combat the spread of Covid-19 pandemic that has been sweeping the world since December, 2019.
My recommendations on steps needed to be taken in order to re-open schools for the over 15 million pupils and students in both public and private primary/secondary school is hereby submitted as per request of the Taskforce chairperson for Kenyans to submit written memoranda to the Secretariat.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
It is already well documented that Covid-19 pandemic is the most dangerous health/social/economic crisis to face the world since World War II and the worst crisis to face Kenya since independence. It is the duty of all parents to protect their children from the dangerous of Covid-19, thus the reason the Government saw it fit to close all schools on 15th, March, 2020 since children are safer at home then in congested environment such as the “100% transition” from Class 8 to Form 1 in Term 1 of 2020.
RED-LINE FOR OPENING SCHOOLS
The Government should NOT allow schools to re-open under any circumstance if the Covid-19 infection is still on the raise and community spread is continuing in certain areas such as Nairobi (Eastleigh, Kawangware, etc), Mombasa (Old Town), Namanga, Migori, Mandera, etc.
School-going children live in these areas and any re-opening of schools can resulting to spreading of Covid-19 to other pupils and students, who will have to walk or use public transport to both day and boarding schools. Children under 18 years of age are getting Covid-19 in Kenya and medical research has shown they can spread the disease.
Although the Ministry of Health is undertaking mass testing on average (2,000 tests daily in May), the number done so far (46,984 by 19/5/2020) is still very low which is only 0.1% of Kenya’s 47 million people. The number of infections is growing as Kenya gets more cases and has reaching the landmark 1,000 mark with 50 deaths. Parents will be reluctant to allow their children to attend schools with such alarming figures, unless a vaccine for Covid-19 is found or infections reduced.
But development of a vaccine may take as long as 18 months or never found and the world will have to live with the disease just like HIV/Aids, malaria, etc. This means that our children will have to one day go back to school but keeping in mind precautions like social distancing, face masks, washing hands.
Kenya will have to step up testing in order to “flattening the curve” (slowing the spread of the epidemic so that the number of people requiring care at a time is reduced, and the health care system does not exceed its capacity).
Hence “flattening the curve” is a red-line in order to decide wheather or not to re-open schools. Even if it takes another one or two years, school should NOT re-open until the curve is flattened. Health officers should be ready at school gates to check temperature of all pupils/student entering or leaving DAILY, wearing of masks and ensure soap and clean water/hand-sanitizers are made available at all 24,000 schools in Kenya.
SCHOOLS SHOULD ONLY BE RE-OPENED WHEN THE ‘CURVE IS FLATTENED’
Hopefully the time the Government deems it safe to lift the overnight curfew and cessation of movements into and from Nairobi, Coast and Mandera (if no further restrictions are imposed), the re-opening of schools can be considered.
In order to keep social distancing in schools, the re-opening should be staggered, giving priority to exams candidates for KCPE and KCSE, ensuring they are tested for Covid-19 before reporting to school as well as teachers and staff. If a candidate carries the disease to a school, then it will become a quarantine centre for next 14 days and even parents would not be able to visit and/or remove their children.
The candidates going to a boarding school should be transported by the school’s own bus or buses hired by the Government to avoid them mixing with the public especially in matatus and public buses. The schools should be sensitized, before the candidates arrive, especially if they were being used as a quarantine center and unauthorized persons prohibited from entering. Special care must be taken in the toilets in schools as they have proved to be dirty and not properly cleaned and can be a potential source of Covid-19, more so if water supply is not adequate. Boarding schools should ensure they have a qualified nurse on duty 24/7 and a dedicated sick bay or sanatorium which can be isolated in case of cases of Covid-19.
Dormitories should have fewer beds to ensure spacing of more at least 2 metres between each other. This will mean building more dorms or using the school hall as a dormitory if funds or time does not allow. If the school hall is also used as dinning hall then the students should eat in classes while more dorms are built.
WHY KCPE AND KCSE MUST BE POSTPONED
There is no law that says both KCPE and KCSE exams cannot be postponed if there is an emergency like in the case of Covid-19 or even held in another year. Only the Ministry of Health should have the FINAL say when it will be suitable to hold BOTH exams as the health of the candidates comes first. Since a school year lasts average of 8 months for Primary and 9 months for Secondary, the first term of 2020 lasted 10 weeks and had only 3 weeks to run, which would have been used for revision and end of term exams.
Hence, we can assume the first term of 2020 does not need to be repeated by candidates so that leaves 13 weeks (excluding a 1 week half-term break) in second term, a 3 week August holiday and a 9 week third term (for Primary) and 10 weeks for Secondary. (There is no half term break in third term for both Primary and Secondary). KCPE was due to start on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020 while KCSE was due to start on Friday, 6th November, 2020.
Class 8 and Form 4 candidates will need a minimum of 5 months to prepare for the exams excluding a two week break to rest. My proposal is that both candidates report to school as soon as the Ministry of Health deems it safe for them to do so and necessary precaution for their safety and transport have been made as described above. If the Government gives go-ahead for re-opening of schools for exam candidates ONLY, then the 5 month timeline plus the 2 week holiday will run from that date and this timeline will determine the starting dates for KCPE and KCSE.
For example, if the re-opening date is set for Monday, 31st August, 2020 then the KCPE will take place on Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021 until Thursday, 4th February, 2021. KCSE will start on Friday, 5th February, 2021 and continue throughout month of February. KCSE practical exams will take place during January, 2021. The 2 week break for Christmas will take place from Monday, 21st December, to 4th January, 2021.
Note: The schools using the British Curriculum were due to sit their end of year exams in June,2020 and were on Third term, hence will need to adjust their academic calendar accordingly when the Government announces the opening of schools.
RE-OPENING OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR NON-CANDIDATES
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, and closure of schools on 15th March, 2020, a decision has to be made to REPEAT the entire academic year for pupils in Primary schools except for 2020 KCPE candidates who will sit for the exams in February, 2021 and move on to Form 1 in May, 2021. Since only 10 weeks were used during 1st term in 2020, and young children have little capacity to re-call what was learnt over one year later, hence the need to start afresh.
Even the so-called “On-line learning” being done by some schools cannot replace face-to-face interaction with teachers, and in any case, it is not recognized by the Government. It should be treated as homework or remedial studies so Kenyan parents should face the reality that their children will have to the REPEAT 2020 academic year in 2021. Parents of children who were to enter Pre-primary 1 in 2021 will have to wait another year as it would be risky to expose such young children (aged 4) to Covid-19.
Under the set timelines, the opening of Primary schools will take place on Monday 8th February, 2021 for Pre-Primary 1 & 2, Grade 1 to Grade 4 and Class 5, 6 and 7 under a staggered system to avoid over-crowding and ensure social distancing. Young children have little awareness of social distancing hence the need to stagger those present on a single day within the school considering some have as many as 3,000 pupils.
I propose the staggering will be as follows to avoid all children being present in school at the same time:-
MONDAY-CLASS 5, 6 AND 7
TUESDAY-P1, P2, GRADE 1,2,3,4 AND CLASS 7
WEDNESDAY-CLASS 5, 6 AND 7
THURSDAY-P1, P2, GRADE 1,2,3,4 AND CLASS 7
FRIDAY-CLASS 5,6 AND 7
To make up for loss of 3 days for the lower classes (G 1,2,3,4) their learning time will be extended in the afternoon up to 4 pm (most public school pupils in lower classes do not attend afternoon sessions). For the loss of 2 days, the learning time for Class 5 and 6 will be extended up to 5 pm. Being pre-candidates for KCPE in 2022, the Class 7 will attend on all 5 days. The Ministry of Education will then set new school term dates for 2021 due to late opening of schools.
RE-OPENING OF SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR NON-CANDIDATES
I propose re-opening of Secondary schools for Form 1, 2 and 3 (repeating 2020 academic year) will be on Monday, 8th March, 2021 to give time for Form 4 to complete KCSE and exit the school. This will allow social distancing as Form 4s will not be present. To make up for loss of time, it is proposed that the 1st Term, 2021 runs for 12 weeks until Friday, 28th May, 2021 (including Easter break).
After the 2020 KCPE results are released and Form 1 selections made, the new Form 1s (2020) will be required to report by Wednesday 7th April, 2021 (after Easter holidays). Having 2 sets of Form 1s in the same school will appear unusual, but this is the only solution to avoid KCPE candidates of 2020 from repeating Class 8. This will also mean that KCSE of 2024 will have more candidates than usual.
School holidays will be for only 2 weeks from Saturday, 29th May, 2021 and open on Monday, 14th June, 2021 for 2nd Term, which will then run for 10 weeks (without half-term) and schools then close for August holidays on Friday, 20th August, 2021. This will be a 3 week holiday until Monday, 13th September, 2021 when they open for 3rd Term. Third term will run for 10 weeks (with 1 week half term break from 17th to 24th, October, 2021) until Friday, 26th November, 2021. Since there will be no Form 4 students, the 3rd Term can be extended until end of November, 2021.
CONCLUSION
While repeating an Academic year is unprecedented in Kenya’s education history, but these are unusual times which requires unusual action to keep our children and teachers safe. Having no KCPE in 2021 should not be taken as out of the norm as it happened once before in 1984 when the 8-4-4 system was introduced and no KCPE was held that year as the then Class 7 moved on to the newly created Class 8 and sat for KCPE in 1985. This resulted in no KCSE exams in 1988 as they were no Form 4 students just as there will be no KCSE in 2025.
My proposal has the aim of ensuring social distancing while ensuring the 2020 exams candidates sit for their exams within the shortest and safest time possible with minimal risk. This will continue the policy of the Ministry of Education of having only exams candidates in school during duration of the exams and have academic year run for full calendar year.
Let us not take risks with the lives of our children by re-opening schools too soon. After all, Education CS Prof George Magoya told Kenyans recently "Dead people do not do exams".
Submitted.
Hillary Ang’awa
could it be a leaked document, yote kumi pull it down coz it's not news to some of us.