Thika town MP Patrick Wainaina has called on the government to consider extending the reopening of schools by two more weeks to give stakeholders time to fully prepare for the new term.
He said the Monday October 19 date set for reopening of Grade 4, standard Eight and Form Four candidates came too soon, and caught many unprepared.
He said the two weeks would be used to have working Covid-10 containment measures in schools and allow parents to look for funds to send children to school.
“While we laud the reopening of schools, we ask for two more weeks as CDF to distribute water tanks, face-masks and hand sanitizers to the schools. Parents too will be use the time to prepare their children for school fees,” he said.
He also called on the government to direct that no student would be sent home for school fees since parents have suffered financially.
He was speaking in Thika after welcoming the new Deputy County Commissioner Mbogo Mathioya yesterday.
This comes as other stakeholders including Maendeleo ya Wanaume warned that reopening schools would result to several home break-ups due to family financial meltdowns.
Chairman Nderitu Njoka said the covid-19 period rendered many men jobless and reopening schools would burden them as they seek to afford schools fees, face-masks, sanitizers and other requirements.
“Men are likely to suffer the consequences of preparing children for school despite most of them being jobless. This might cause family unrests and maybe breakups. The reopening should be delayed to allow parents to prepare financially,” he said while addressing the media in Ruiru yesterday.
The reopening of the schools will put to an end to almost eight months of children staying at home, following the abrupt closure of schools in March due to coronavirus pandemic.
By Muoki Charles
