Author: Hezron Rooy

Schools Reopening to Begin on Friday, May 10 — PS Raymond Omollo Announces The National Government has unveiled a new plan, effective Friday, May 10th, allowing boarding school students to commence their journeys back to school. Speaking to the media, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo revealed that the decision aimed to alleviate traffic challenges due to the reopening of all schools on Monday. He emphasized the need to manage the impact of the floods that ravaged the country in March, causing significant damage to roads. Omollo reassured the public that the government had deployed officers to maintain orderliness and safety on…

Ministry to Extend Academic Calendar but Exam Dates to Remain Unchanged — Machogu According to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, the government intends to extend Term Two school dates to compensate for the two-week delay in the opening of learning institutions caused by flooding. During a briefing on Thursday, the Education CS revealed that the second term would be prolonged for an unspecified period to allow schools to thoroughly cover the syllabus, particularly for candidates preparing for the national exams in November this year. Machogu said that the Ministry would explore options to recuperate the lost time, especially for Form Four candidates, by…

University Selected for German Language Program After Ruto’s 250,000 Jobs to Deal The government, through Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, announced plans for Tom Mboya University to pioneer a German Language Program. This initiative aims to equip Kenyans with essential language skills following the Kenya-German Labour Migration Agreement. Integrating into the German Labour System underscores the significance of learning German for Kenyans, facilitating their access to job opportunities in Germany. President William Ruto’s discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the Chancellor’s State visit to Kenya in May 2023 revealed Germany’s commitment to offering around 250,000 jobs to Kenyans, emphasizing…

Several Schools to Defy Ruto’s Directive Amidst School Reopening Headache Next week, thousands of students may not be able to return to school due to floods damaging many institutions, leaving classrooms submerged and toilets swept away. In some areas, families displaced by floods have sought shelter in classrooms and school compounds, compounding the issue. Parents express concern over their children’s potential academic disadvantage in this situation. The Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, declared on Thursday that due to heavy rains in certain regions, schools in several parts of the country may not reopen. Tana River, Homa Bay, and Kisumu counties…

Government to Shorten August Holiday to Compensate for Lost Time The ministry of education plans to shorten the August holiday to allow sufficient time for completing the syllabus. The postponement of school opening dates from May 6 to May 13 was necessitated by heavy rains affecting the country. Follow Teachers Updates Page On Facebook The Ministry of Education is expected to issue directives regarding the specific schools and areas for reopening. A check revealed that over 1900 schools have been impacted by flooding, with some completely submerged. In Our Other News: KNUT Calls for Psychosocial Support for Flood Affected Learners…

MPs Press Govt to Reconstruct Damaged School Infrastructure Members of Parliament have encouraged the government to prioritize the reconstruction of flood-damaged schools, roads, and bridges before students return for the second term.  Floods have hit at least 1,967 schools as heavy rains continue to fall across the country. MPs said that flooding ruined classrooms, dorms, halls, washrooms, latrines, fences, and boundary walls, making several institutions uninhabitable. They stated that families evacuated by flooding had sought shelter in schools, putting further strain on already limited resources. Majimbo Kalasinga, a Kabuchai MP, underlined the need for the government to offer emergency funding…

Top Ministry Officials to Tour the Country to Asses Damage and Readiness for School Reopening Top Ministry officials will begin touring the country to assess the extent of damage and readiness for school reopening. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu will lead his officials to flood-affected areas. CS Machogu issued a circular to Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education on May 3, 2024, urging all stakeholders to prioritize the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the school community. He requested that schools report the number of students who were unable to attend class due to transportation issues, the financial…

End TSC Internships: KNUT Advocates for Direct Permanent Employment of Teachers The Makueni branch of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has enthusiastically welcomed the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s decision to declare internships among teachers unconstitutional. Led by Executive Secretary Benson Ndambuki, they encouraged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to consider hiring those teachers on permanent and pensionable contracts.  Despite the good intentions, Ndambuki criticized the execution of the process. He argued that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should not implement internships and instead should hire teachers permanently from the outset. According to Ndambuki, it is unjustifiable to subject fully…

KNUT Advocates for Physical Education and Psychosocial Support for Flood Affected Learners. Questions have been brought up regarding whether plans have been made for children affected by floods to restart physical education and receive psychosocial support. Collins Oyuu, the secretary general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), has emphasized the importance of schools involving counseling departments to evaluate the well-being of learners. He pointed out that some students may come from families that have experienced loss and, as a result, require emotional and psychological support. He advocated for a gradual reopening for individuals who may be unable to…

Gov’t Begins Deployment of 2,000 Recruited TVET Trainers The government has begun the deployment of 2,000 Technical, Vocational Education, and Training (TVET) trainers to various institutions around the country.  During the celebration of TVETS’ 100th anniversary on Monday, May 6, at Uasin Gishu County offices, North Rift TVETs Regional Director Mickel Rugut stated that the recruitment of trainers is expected to address increased enrolment in TVETs. He credited President William Ruto, who was Minister of Education at the time, with masterminding the spike in increased enrollment through energetic campaigns. He mentioned that the current success in observing high enrollment of learners in TVETS was initiated when the President served…