NAIROBI SEPTEMBER 18, 2015(CISA) – The government has ordered the closure of all public and private schools beginning Monday September 21, due to the ongoing teachers’ strike.
In a statement sent to news rooms today, the Ministry of Education pointed out that it is no longer necessary to have schools opened because no learning is taking place, in public schools.
“The revision of the term dates for Primary and Secondary schools has been necessitated by the fact that very little or no teaching and learning has been going on in most of these institutions in the last three weeks with the exception of examination classes. As a result, tension has been building up among learners who have been left idle under the care of very few teachers. Some incidences of insecurity in schools have been reported by head of institutions and field officers during the period,” Acting Secretary of Education Leah Rotich stated.
“In order to safeguard the security of the learners, staff and school property, and thus address the concerns of parents and other key stakeholders, the Ministry has revised the term dates as stated above and other term dates will be communicated in due course,” she added.
Ms Rotich indicated that this will further safeguard the security of the learners, staff and school property during the ongoing dispute with teachers.
“The Ministry wishes to thank all teachers who continue to assist prepare the 2015 candidates for examinations. It is expected that TSC teachers who are in school and BOM (Boards of Management) teachers, will continue to teach and prepare KCSE and KCPE candidates. Those already engaged in KNEC examination management will also be expected to perform their duties as per the KNEC Act 2012,” she said.
Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang however, says the national examinations for Form Four and Class eight will go on as scheduled.
“The Ministry and Teachers Service Commission continue appealing to our teachers that yes, we have prepared these children for the last 12 years for our form four candidates and the last eight years for our class eight candidates notwithstanding the dispute that is there, let’s be the parents, the guardians, the brothers, the sisters and grandparents that we are of these children,” Capital FM quoted Dr Kipsang as saying.
KNEC launched the 2015 national examinations timetable even as the deadline for striking teachers to go back to class or be removed from the payroll elapsed on Friday September 18.
The strike has caused a stand off between the government and teachers with the Ministry of Education insisting that the examination calendar for primary and secondary education will not be rescheduled.
