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Education CS Faulted for Last Minute Postponement of School Opening

By Moses Muli
Published: April 29, 2024, 11:08 AM(EAT)
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has been heavily criticized for announcing the postponement of school opening in the 11th hour, throwing learners, parents and guardians into confusion.Machogu issued a statement at around 1 am on Monday, saying that the government has pushed school opening dates for a week due to the ongoing heavy rains across the country. 

The schools were set to open on Monday, April 29, but that has been postponed to Monday, May 6, due to flooding as a result of the rains.

Among those who have criticized Machogu for the late decision is Meru County Woman Rep Elizabeth Karambu who said the decision to postpone school reopening came a bit late.

“Some boarding kids are already in school and don’t know whether to go back home or stay at school. We, as the government, need to up our game,” Karambu said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto, who was appearing alongside her on Citizen TV’s Day Break.

Wandeto said Machogu needs to be decisive with the data he has at his disposal, to avoid inconveniencing Kenyans and indeed school kids.

“Even though CS Machogu’s decision to postpone school reopening came a bit late, it was the right decision. He needs to get decisive with the data he gets and take action early,” Wandeto said.

Other Kenyans also expressed their frustration at the late announcement, with others sharing photos and videos of school kids fully dressed and going to school, oblivious of the late changes.

Dr. Ahmed Kalebi wondered what would happen to boarding school students who had already travelled for the reopening of schools.

“Many boarders had already traveled to their schools overnight so as to report this morning. Are they to be returned back home? Won’t that be an even bigger risk to the school children who’ve traveled, besides the costs? Should the schools keep them for a week?” he wondered.

Lawyer Nelson Havi also wondered how the CS could issue the notice on the morning of school opening day.

“How do you issue notice of postponement of school opening day on the morning of school opening day?”

Another Kenyan said: “I saw school buses collecting learners from estates as early as 5 am. Teachers travelled over the weekend to their workstations. Others sadly died yesterday heading to Garissa. What a country is this!”

“Quite unfortunate. This is a communication that should have been done at least three days earlier to avoid inconveniences especially those who may have started traveling.”

The late communication has also affected the transport sector, with operators forced to refund fare to students who had booked seats to travel to school.

A matatu driver with Meru Deluxe Sacco was captured refunding fare to students who were already at the stage ready to travel to school. The driver later directed the students to the bus station where they could take a bus back home.

Modern Coast issued a statement to all parents and guardians who had booked seats for their school kids, advising them to rebook the seats and change the dates to next week.

The company said due to the tight guidelines on students safety, it is taking every measure to ensure every student is safe.

Machogu’s late announcement came a day after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua insisted that schools would re-open as planned despite the adverse weather conditions in the country.

Gachagua said those families who had camped in schools due to displacement by the floods will be moved to other camps to allow learning resume.

 

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