Gov't Postpones School Reopening, Sets New Date

The government has postponed school reopening which was set for Monday, April 29.

In a notice issued by the office of government spokesperson, the Ministry of Education has postponed the scheduled second-term school reopening due to the heavy rains experienced in the country.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has since directed parents and schools across the country to prepare for school reopening on Monday, April 6.

Machogu added that his Ministry will continue working with relevant stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains on the education sector.

The decision to call off planned school resumption follows data received from various regional education bosses on the situation of schools.

"In the face of the ongoing heavy rains, the Ministry of Education last week directed its field officers to submit data from all Basic Education Learning Institutions countrywide to assist the Government in assessing the readiness of the schools for the Second Term opening on Monday, April 29, 2024.

"Reports received at the Ministry of Education, corroborated with data from other relevant Government agencies, show that a number of schools in various regions of the country have been adversely affected by the rains," the statement read in part.

"The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools is so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety of all affected school communities," it added.

Before announcing the school reopening postponement, a section of parents and lawmakers had questioned the Ministry for putting the lives of students at risk.

This is because of the ravaging effects of the rains which have left most parts of the country flooded. The roads have also been rendered impassable.