The Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Transport Solomon Katungu has called on Tharaka Nithi county school principals and head-teachers to maintain concerted efforts that have ensured smooth resumption of learning in the region.
Speaking to the press at Wiru Primary School after leading a team of three principal secretaries to ascertain the level of preparedness after the long break occasioned Covid-19, Katungu said the schools visited have done their best to implement ministry of health guidelines including washing of hands, wearing of face masks and social distancing.
The Ps who was accompanied by his counterparts Nancy Karigithu (Fishing and Maritime) and Major General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa (Public Works) further disclosed that almost all the pupils have reported back to school and the whereabouts of the few remaining have been established.
“The school heads and the government administration officers have confirmed to us that the few cases of pregnancies have already been discussed and commitment has been received from both the pupils and their parents to ensure they report back to school as soon as possible,” said the PS.
The team was on a two-day visit to schools to monitor learning progress and whether the necessary precautionary measures to guard against Coronavirus had been taken.
They visited several schools in the three sub-counties of Igambang’ombe, Meru South and Maara and they were supposed to tour more learning institutions on Friday.
At Kiamuriuki low Cost Boarding primary that was first to be visited the Principal Secretaries directed that the three girls who are yet to report having given birth recently be encouraged and supported to resume learning.
The team was received and accompanied in their itinerary by the County Multi- Sectoral team that is chaired by the County Commissioner Beverly Opwora who cautioned school principals against sending any pupil from school due to lack of school fees.
“The national government has addressed the issue of school fees through release of NG-CDF (National Government Constituency Development Fund) bursaries and the County government has supplemented with even more and the school heads have no reason to send any student away from school,” said the County Commisioner.
The County Teachers Service Commission (TSC) director Abubakar Hassan reminded the school principals and head-teachers that there was need to be creative in handling the minor challenges they are facing now that they have enough teachers.
Hassan said on reopening TSC extended the contracts of 47 teachers and recruited 124 others to be deployed to needy schools in the area as a way of allowing students to observe the requisite social distancing.
by David Mutwiri
