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Govt to extend school opening dates on a case-by-case basis

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By Hanifa Adan | 26 Apr 2024

Schools unaffected by the rain will return to school on Monday, April 29, 2024.

The national government will extend the reopening of schools, with students resuming classes with a customised approach.

Addressing the media on Friday, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang stated that schools will reopen on a case-by-case basis as the government continues to assess the impact of the heavy rains and floods countrywide.

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Kipsang, while speaking at a press briefing at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's official residence in Karen, Nairobi, stated that the Ministry of Education will work closely with county governments to analyse the conditions before notifying parents and students of any changes.

He also emphasised that students from schools unaffected by the rain will return to school on Monday, April 29, 2024, as scheduled by the government.

"In Nairobi County, we have 64 schools, which are substantially affected in terms of classes and washrooms. In Nairobi, we decided to deal with them as local issues. Thus, we cannot ask all schools not to open."

"This is because Nairobi has 210 public schools and 800 private schools. For the 64, we might delay their opening," the PS stated.

Kipsang had earlier on directed all schools to reopen next week for the second term, a decision that did not sit well with parents and other stakeholders.

The Ministry of Education had further circulated a memo to regional education directors, asking them to collect and submit data on the rain and flood impacts to guide reopening.

DP Gachagua, speaking at the presser, updated on the death toll, stating that about 70 people had died, with 22 injured and eight reported missing as floods continue to wreak havoc. 24,000 households, he added, were displaced, equivalent to 120,000 people.

"I want to thank our development partners and humanitarian agencies for coming together to aid us, just like when we suffered the worst drought in 40 years and during the El Nino rains," Gachagua appreciated multi-agency units and humanitarian organisations that were working together to rescue.

"Saving lives and livelihoods is a priority as our country continues to receive enhanced rains. The multiagency approach under a joint strategy by State and non-state actors is key to keeping our people safe as the rains continue," he added.