The Covid-19 National Education Response Committee has handed over the final report on the guidelines on re-opening of primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities to the Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha.
The report is expected to be handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta who will be addressing the nation tomorrow.
Although the contents of the report were not revealed during todays’ press conference, the CS has emphasized that all decisions regarding re-opening of learning centres will be made based on data and evidence from the Ministry of Health.
All learning institutions were closed in mid-March after the first three Covid-19 cases were reported in the country.
During the last briefing Magoha maintained that the government would not gamble with lives of learners by reopening schools in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ MORE
Real 'dynasties' have come back together, can fresh 'hustlers' voice emerge?
Ruto banks on Kinyanjui to win crucial Nakuru vote bloc in 2027
“A child who is at home and alive is better than one who tried to do exams and died,” Magoha said while receiving the preliminary report of the committee at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
The CS now wants parents, guardians and care givers to take charge of the safety of their children during this pandemic period and even spend time with them.
“It is most heartbreaking that after I went to the slums to fish out some of the girls from the slums and took them to schools after looking for scholarships for them, three of the form one girls are pregnant within this short period of two months. A big shame on the parents,” said the CS.
“We should only produce the children we are able to take care of. If you have no time to look after your child then you have no business creating a child. I want to state without fear of contradiction that parents must change their mindset and love their children by creating time. Love is measured by the number of minutes or hours you spend with your child and not by the amount of money you give your child,” added Magoha.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had issued a warning on those engaging in cybercrime activities and luring young children by exposing them to harmful content.
Education CS George Magoha has urged parents and guardians to firmly take charge of the custody of their children, to protect them from sex and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, genital mutilation among other vices.
Online lessons provided by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development will continue being aired after an extension from the Ministry of Education until when schools are re-opened.
