The last classes of Kenya's primary and secondary school will resume classes next Monday, 12 October 2020 to allow pupils to take their state exams at the end of March 2021.
This was announced yesterday, Tuesday 6 October, by Education Minister George Magoha,
"The Minister has announced the reopening of the schools for Form 4 and Class 8 classes only - says the official communiqué - the KCPE exams will start on 22 March 2021 and will end on 24 March 2021. KCSE exams will start on 25 March 2021 and will end on 16 April 2021".
In his directive, Magoha has confirmed that the use of the mask will be compulsory and that educational institutions will be required to carry out temperature controls.
Magoha specified that institutions that have previously been used as quarantine facilities and that had been connected to the nearest health facilities, have already undergone fumigation and are ready for use.
The Minister also urged the teachers to provide psychological and spiritual support to the students, noting that the government has borne the costs of the KCPE and KCSE for all students.
The directive comes just one week after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued the guidelines to be observed before the school reopens during the Covid-19 conference where he loosened the last restrictions, including increasing from 100 to 200 the number of people who may find themselves in a unique environment or be involved in any ceremony, event or public gathering. Kenyatta, while rejecting the calendar proposed by his Ministry, had not set a precise date for the resumption of classes, specifying that he would only give his consent when the Ministry of Health had sufficiently guaranteed the safety of the students.
The government has not yet announced the resumption date of the school for the rest of the students, while universities and some technical colleges have already reopened on Monday 5 October.