Principals and head teachers have been directed to ensure the safety of learners who have already reported for the second term.
The government Friday indefinitely postponed the reopening of schools due to the prevailing rains and floods affecting most parts of the country.
Given the obtaining situation, the management of schools is required to retain learners in school and ensure their safety and security, except only where the conditions allow for their safe return to their homes.
To ensure smooth learning when new dates are announced, field education officers working in areas where schools are hosting displaced persons to work closely with local administrators to identify alternative accommodations for the affected persons.
“All field education officers working in areas where schools are hosting displaced persons should liaise with the local National Government Administration Officers to immediately identify alternative accommodation for affected persons to ensure the facilities are available for normal learning activities” the CS said in a circular to all top education officials.
So far 1,967 schools have had their infrastructure destroyed by the floods that have killed over 200 people and displaced thousands some of whom have sought refuge in learning institutions.
115 camps have been set up across 19 counties hosting 27,586 people following the torrential rains.
The Ministry is conducting an assessment of the situation hence schools and County Education Boards are to convene meetings and forthwith submit status reports in a week.
The reports should detail all relevant matters, such as any damage caused to school infrastructure due to adverse weather conditions and outline mitigation measures.
For the school boards, the reports should be submitted by May 8th, 2024 to the county education boards who should forward them to the CS by May 10th.
“County Education Boards are directed to convene urgent meetings to assess the situation in their respective areas and submit comprehensive reports to the Cabinet Secretary by May 10th, 2024”, reads the circular also copied to the teachers’ employer-TSC
“The reports are critical for, among others, engaging with the National Government Constituency Development Fund on the restoration of the damaged infrastructure,” said Dr Machogu.
The Regional Directors of Education are equally expected to provide regular updates on the status of the learning institutions in their respective areas.
Schools were to open on April 29, 2024, but Machogu in a last-minute decision pushed the dates to May 6th, 2024.
While addressing the nation, President William Ruto directed the Ministry to postpone the dates until further notice.
