Govt to extend term two calendar to recover lost time - CS Machogu

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu says his ministry is planning to extend the second term to ensure the syllabus is well covered after students sat at home for two more weeks amid the heavy rains and floods.

Schools will reopen on Monday, May 13, two weeks behind the initial date, April 29.

"Particularly for Form Four candidates, we will see how we can recover time lost by extending (the second term) by a few days. They were expected to close for three weeks in August this year and we might minimise the number of days schools will be closed," the CS stated while touring Kongoni Primary School in South C, Nairobi, where he assessed flood impacts.

He further emphasised that while other aspects may be subject to change, the schedule for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations will remain unchanged, with the exams proceeding in November as scheduled.

"The examination calendar remains the same; KCSE and KPSEA will be taken in the normal time from November," he added.

Machogu also stated that approximately 98 per cent of schools are ready to reopen for the second term on Monday, May 13, with comprehensive assessments indicating that they are in favourable condition. Two per cent of schools remain unfit for reopening due to severe flood damage.

“By the reports we had yesterday, the specific schools that are badly affected and cannot be opened are about two per cent. We have the specific names of those schools. These are the schools we are trying to come up with ways and means on how we can be able to extend learning for the particular students who have been affected. Otherwise, about 98 per cent of schools are good for opening on Monday,” Machogu said.

He added that Tana River, Homa Bay, and Kisumu are among seven counties where schools may not re-open on Monday, prompting the ministry to consider alternative learning options for students in these areas.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu visits Karen C Secondary School in South C, Nairobi, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo: EduMin)

“We have done an assessment on each and every school, and there are still some regional directors of education, senior officers from the Ministry of Education and county directors of education countrywide in all 47 counties assessing the flooding situation in schools. The purpose of them being out in the field is to come up with a report specifically indicating the schools that are badly affected. And in fact, we are getting those reports daily,” he explained.

“The situation is manageable, and apart from the affected institutions, other schools, including Kongoni Primary, are ready to welcome students back next Monday. Some schools might require a week or two to repair damages,” he further highlighted.

Approximately 10 schools, according to Machogu, are currently serving as shelters for flood victims, with efforts coordinated with the National Government and the Ministry of Interior to relocate them before Monday, May 13.

He assured parents that transportation routes to schools are secure and learning materials lost to floods will be replaced promptly.

“In schools where learning materials were destroyed, we are also getting those reports and based on the reports we will get, we will be able to provide and supply the necessary textbooks or exercise books that might have been destroyed during the flooding. So once we get the report on the specific schools and the number of learners affected, we will take the necessary action,” he said.

To ensure schools are ready for the resumption of studies, Machogu urged the National Treasury to expedite the release of Sh1 billion, as promised by President William Ruto. The money will be used to repair flood-damaged institutions and ensure that disrupted learning resumes swiftly.