Basic Education PS Julius Jwan speaks at the Homa Bay County headquarters on March 8, 2022. [James Omoro, Standard].
The Government has warned teachers and parents against engaging pupils in tuition during the long holiday.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan directed teachers and parents to refrain from any learning activities during the holiday.
This is aimed at preventing much burden on primary and secondary school pupils during the short academic year, he said.
The academic year for primary and secondary school students starts on April 27 and will end in December.
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Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the schools' learning started in January and ended in November.
Speaking when he opened a KCPE examination container at Homa Bay County headquarters, Jwan expressed concerns that some teachers and parents might take advantage of the holiday to engage pupils in tuition.
“There is the likelihood that some teachers and parents will engage pupils in tuition on grounds that this holiday is long. There is no tuition at all during this holiday,” Jwan said.
The PS who was accompanied by Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan said no parent should be worried about the next academic year for primary and secondary school pupils.
He argued that all the time will be covered when pupils open schools late next month.
“This holiday is meant to give students time to rest. Any time someone may feel is being wasted will be recovered in school,” he added.
Dr Jwan assured parents that there will be no pressure on pupils during the next academic year.
He said the Ministry had put all arrangements to ensure all the syllabus is covered well.
He allayed fears that pupils would lack time to cover the syllabus for various subjects of study.
“An academic term takes between 10 and 14 weeks. This duration is enough for coverage of the syllabus to ensure students get the content they deserve. We have put in place all the necessary arrangements to ensure pupils have a conducive atmosphere,” Jwan said.
The basic education academic calendar in Kenya was disrupted by Covid-19 from March 2020.
The 2022 academic calendar is considered short since its first term begins on April 27 and ends in December.
Pupils who are currently in Form Three and Class Seven will sit their KCSE and KCPE exams respectively in December.
It is in next year when the pupils who pioneered the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will be joining Form One.
