Schools set to reopen as teachers ask for extension

What you need to know:

  • Education Principal Secretary Richard Kipsang confirmed that stakeholders in the sector had been invited to discuss elongation of the term

Public primary schools open on Monday morning as headteachers called for an extension of the term by two weeks.

A key meeting to discuss extension will be held on Tuesday where the headteachers, examinations council, parents and teachers unions, among others, will decide on the matter.

Education Principal Secretary Richard Kipsang confirmed that stakeholders in the sector had been invited to discuss elongation of the term.

This is to enable students recover time lost during the 24-day teachers’ strike that started in June 25, and a further closure of public primary schools for two days last week.

“The meeting is meant to discuss how the institutions will compensate the time learners have lost, ” Dr Kipsang said, adding that letters have already been sent out to parties.

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) suggested that the term should be extended for at least two weeks this term, and then students break for a two-week August holiday.

The rest of the time, Kessha chairman John Awiti added will be recovered during the third term.

“It is difficult to recover all the time that the learners have lost during the strike, as well as that lost during the General Election,” Mr Awiti said.

He added: “Without the extension, we may have a serious backlog, not just for the candidates sitting this year’s national exam, but also the rest of the classes will find it hard to cover the syllabus.”

But Mr Awiti, who heads St Mary’s Yala was concerned over the cost of the extension.

He noted that some schools still retained students during the strike and an extension would mean that they ask the parents for more money.

Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (Kepsha) supported a similar arrangement, but called for a more meaningful teaching and learning process.

“It is not just the extension of the days that have been lost that we are seeking rather the way the days are utilised it,” Kepsha chairman Joseph Karuga said.

At the same time, parents’ representatives supported the extension of the term. National Parents and Teachers Association boss Nathan Baraza said they want the term extended by three week, while Mr Musau Ndunda of the National Parents Association was of similar views.

Last year, the third term was extended by three weeks after a teachers’ strike disrupted learning in the institutions for a similar period.