KENYA: The Kenyan High Court has suspended the reopening of schools, barely a week after the Ministry of Education announced the resumption of learning for grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students.
This follows a petition filed by Joseph Enock Aura against the Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his education counterpart Professor George Magoha challenging the resumption of learning in schools from October 12. 2020..
The High Court in its ruling has directed that both respondents and interested parties file their submissions within the next three days adding that the Ministry of Education should invite all parties in the petition and stakeholders within the shortest time possible.
It is the second time the High Court is halting any form of academic activity after it first halted community-learning plans by the ministry of education in the age of the coronavirus pandemic.
Education CS Prof. Magoha announced the resumption of learning for Grade 4 pupils, Class 8 and form four students on October 6.
Resumption of learning for the children is to prepare them for the final exams which will begin in March next year.
“Pursuant to the Presidential Directive issued during the Twelfth (12th) Presidential Address to the Nation on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Monday, 28th September, 2020, and following broad-based education stakeholder consultations; the Ministry of Education notifies the public that the progressive re-opening of schools will commence with Grade 4 (Competency Based Curriculum Class), Class 8 and Form 4 on Monday, 12th October, 2020,” reads the statement.
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams will run for three days until March 24, 2021 while Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams will start on March 25, 2021 and end on April 16, 2021.
According to the government, students returning to school on Monday will continue with learning until December 23, 2020, when the second term will come to an end as students proceeding for a one-week Christmas Holiday.
