All universities and tertiary institutions will re-open on Monday the 5th of October 2020, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has said.
The CS in a statement on Tuesday added that the opening up of education institutions however will be progressive.
Following broad based stakeholder consultations and also pursuant to the presidential Directive issued by President Uhuru yesterday during the 12th address to the nation on Corona Virus Pandemic, CS Magoha said the examination classes of Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will report on Monday, 5th October, 2020
Further, he added that the Boards of the TTCs and the TVETS will announce the resumption date for in-person learning for other classes, with priority being accorded to students undertaking practical courses;
“Final Year Students in all Universities and their constituent Colleges will report on Monday, 5th October, 2020, and the respective University Councils and their Senates will announce the date for resumption of in-person learning for students in other academic classes, with priority being accorded to those undertaking science-based courses”, he said .
Prof. Magoha however noted that safe resumption of in-person learning in all Universities and Tertiary Institutions requires utmost fidelity to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
“It is directed that all learning institutions will be required to mandatorily enforce strict adherence to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which include; monitoring of the body temperature for all learners and all other persons accessing the institutions, observance of high levels of hygiene, hand washing/use of sanitizers, and the adoption of innovative approaches to uphold the guidelines on physical and social distancing and the use of face masks/shields”, he said
The CS further ordered that all Universities and tertiary institutions that had been designated as quarantine centers to be fumigated under the supervision of the Ministry of Health prior to their re-opening;
He explained that all universities and tertiary institutions must be linked to a health facility prior to being re-opened, while all learning institutions shall provide psychosocial and spiritual support to learners and staff during the subsistence of the current pandemic
Prof. Magoha warned the Councils/Boards and Vice-Chancellors/Principals to ensure full compliance with the guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health, failure to which their respective institutions will be closed for breaching those health protocols and guidelines.
“Education officials, in conjunction with Public Health Officials, will continuously monitor and review the levels of compliance with respect to the aforementioned measures”, Prof Magoha said.
Yesterday President Uhuru called upon the Education CS to immediately issue a calendar for the resumption of 2020 academic year if it is to be or if it is going to be 2021.
He had also emphasized on the need for learning institutions to be re-opened only when and if sufficiently safety of children can be guaranteed.
By Wangari Ndirangu
