The Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Prof. George Magoha has said the government will consider public opinion before re-opening schools in September.
Prof. Magoha, who addressed journalists at Kakamega primary school on Sunday after inspecting the school water supply capacity, said pupils are supposed to have access to running water for washing hands before re-opening.
“We want public participation regarding every aspect on opening up our institutions, including when and how our children will be allowed to go back to school, the revision of the school term dates and timetable, changing of examination dates so that it will be a collective decision involving all stakeholders,” he observed.
The CS said that every school will be required to have at least one infrared thermometer (Thermo- gun) and a water tank before they are allowed to resume learning.
He added that other factors such as toilets and student population per facility will be considered to avoid compromising the standards and measures outlined for containing the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
Magoha urged leaders and well-wishers across the country to step in and help schools in their locality acquire water tanks and other essentials through donations and grants even to help complement the government’s efforts to ensure public schools are fit for re-opining.
The CS further asked parents to monitor their children’s online activity and enlighten them on cyber bullying, citing the unprecedented rise in screen time for children during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The former don said that children are now exposed to several risks, including cyberstalking and bullying, child exploitation, online sex predators and exposure to adult content.
“Parents should train their children not to trust anybody online while encouraging open communication regarding their online presence for when such cases arise to ensure the safety of their children,” he advised.
By Sammy Mwibanda
