The Ministry of Education has directed all secondary schools to close in two weeks after the pressure that stemmed from widespread cases of unrest .
In a statement dated Monday, November 1st 2021, school principals were directed to close schools for half-term on Friday, November 19.
The circular addressed to all regional and county directors of education also indicated that the schools would resume on Tuesday, November 23, after a 5-day break.
“It has been decided that the half term break will commence on Friday, November 19, 2021. The students will report back on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.
“You are required to bring this information to the attention of all principals of Secondary Schools within your area of Jurisdiction,” read the statement in part
The circular was signed by Education Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan and shared with Education CS, Prof George Magoha.
The directive comes just hours after teachers from Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) as well as school heads attached to Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) advised the state to a short-term break.
KESSHA chair Indimuli Kahi had told the press that the association wrote to the Ministry requesting a break for all schools while advocating for the return of extra-curricula activities.
It had also been established that the students uprising had been caused by the make-up programme that the Ministry introduced to make up for the 10 months that were lost in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
“We forgot that we have students who have a lot of energy and they look forward to participating in these events,” stated Kahi.
Separately, KUPPET had also advised the ministry to consider giving high school students a 5-day break as a short-term solution over the students unrest.
Milemba further rooted for the abolition of boarding schools countrywide to ensure that parents are also involved in discipline and counsel of their children on a daily basis.
“As we have always said as KUPPET, do away with boarding schools as much as possible. Why are students burning the dormitories? You did not hear them burn classrooms or laboratories. They always burn dormitories everywhere.
“The problem in the house is the boarding schools. I think it is high time the Ministry of Education bit the bullet and do away with the boarding schools,” he noted.
I think that the abolition of boarding schools is not the solution. Since most if not some of the students feel better at school. The boarding schools also help students from interior parts of the country access education. I can say they re introduce the extra curriculum activities