Nairobi — The nine-member Education Response Committee on COVID-19 established to advise the government on the modalities of re-opening schools was set to present its report Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha on Friday.
The committee chaired by Dr Sarah Ruto, who is the Chairperson Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (KICD) with other members being drawn from the expansive sector, was mandated to advise Prof Magoha on the reorganization of the school calendar as part of the post-COVID-19 education recovery strategy.
Opinion is divided on whether schools should be re-opened this year amid the coronavirus situation, with the country's leading tutors' unions Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) urging the government to re-open the learning institutions at least by September.
The two unions in joint press briefing on Wednesday said: "Reopening of schools, colleges and universities must be transparent, phased and coupled with clear communication by government and public universities, colleges and schools, with the input of public health professionals, front-line healthcare professionals, educators, academic staff and the unions."
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has however, proposed for the partial re-opening of schools by June 15.
