The Government of Kenya on Monday, 12, reopened schools for all final year students as the country gears towards full resumption. The move overturned an earlier decision to scrap the academic year owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The phased reopening means that only grade four and class eight pupils (the final class at primary level) will resume face to face learning from Monday. In secondary, only form four students (the equivalent of senior six in Rwanda) have been cleared to report back for in-person class sessions. Kenyas national teachers union Secretary-General, Wilson Sossion, told the media the reopening was being done cautiously. All schools must implement Covid-19 protocols in readiness for admission of students like one they must sanitise and provide sufficient hand-washing points, all learners must wear face masks, social distancing is encouraged though we have seen in some cases it’s impossible, he said. Teachers in Kenya reported back to school two weeks ago to prepare for the resumption of face to face learning. Local media reports indicate that the Kenyan government plans to eventually reopen schools for the non-transitional students by November 2. Similarly, different countries on the continent have announced plans to reopen schools after barely seven months of no formal education. For instance, earlier this month Rwanda announced that a total of 17 institutions of higher learning will, effective this month, reopen their premises for students to resume in-person classes.
