The government has directed all school heads to break for mid-term to pave way for the preparation of the highly anticipated August 9, General Election.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha announced that all basic learning institutions will remain closed for 10 days.
In a statement on Monday, August 1, Magoha announced that all schools should be closed by Wednesday, July 3, and will remain closed until Thursday, August 11.
“As you are all aware, Kenya is scheduled to conduct its National Elections on Tuesday, August 9. Therefore, following further consultations,
“I hereby convey the Government’s decision on the immediate closure of all basic Education institutions with effect from Tuesday, August 2, 2022, until Wednesday, August 10, to ensure that preparations and conduct of the upcoming elections are carried out seamlessly,
“Schools and parents are advised to ensure that learners from all basic education institutions proceed on their half-term break effective Tuesday, August 2, and resume on Thursday, August 11,” Magoha said in the statement seen by Kivumbi.co.ke.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands most public primary schools are used as polling stations across the country.
The announcement had many Kenyans complaining especially considering some children study far away from their homes and parents have to make arrangements to go and pick them.
Many Kenyans took to social media to express their frustrations at the directive by Magoha. Some wondered whether the former Nairobi University lecturer consults anyone in the ministry before making declarations.
Earlier on, the CS Magoha had said that schools are to close from Saturday, August 6, 2022, to Monday, August 15.
He however said that the communication issued today was final and that any other information that he had issued earlier on is null and void.
“This communication supersedes any earlier communication on the closure of basic education institutions,
“Should there be a repeat election during my tenure which I hope will not then we will sit with stakeholders and see whether it will be fair to examine the children if they would have lost a considerable amount of time,” Magoha said.
