Gov't: All secondary schools to close in 2 weeks

The Ministry of Education has directed all secondary schools to close in two weeks after the pressure that stemmed from widespread cases of unrest. 

In a circular signed by Education Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan and shared with Education CS, Prof George Magoha, school principals were directed to close schools for half-term on Friday, November 19.

According to the circular, the schools would resume on Tuesday, November 23, after a 5-day break.

The statement dated Monday, November 1 read in part, "It has been decided that the half term break will commence on Friday, November 19, 2021. The students will report back on Tuesday, November 23, 2021." 

"You are required to bring this information to the attention of all principals of Secondary Schools within your area of Jurisdiction," it added. 

The circular is a response to the call by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) as well as school heads attached to Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), advising the state to a short-term break.

KESSHA has written to the Ministry requesting a break for all schools while advocating for the return of extra-curricula activities.

Reportedly, the make-up programme that the Ministry introduced to make up for the 10 months that were lost in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic caused the students uprising. 

KESSHA chair Indimuli Kahi said, “We forgot that we have students who have a lot of energy and they look forward to participating in these events. ” 

Furthermore, KUPPET had suggested to the ministry that giving high school students a 5-day break as a short-term solution over the students unrest.

KUPPET chairman Omboko Milemba suggested that boarding schools should be abolished countrywide to ensure that parents are also involved in discipline and counsel of their children daily.

He stated, "As we have always said as KUPPET, do away with boarding schools as much as possible. Why are students burning the dormitories? You did not hear them burn classrooms or laboratories. They always burn dormitories everywhere." 

"The problem in the house is the boarding schools. I think it is high time the Ministry of Education bit the bullet and do away with the boarding schools," Milemba added.