With the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic almost contained, Kenyans have been asking for the reopening of schools.
On Wednesday, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha clarified that ALL educational institutions will re-open in January 2021 as earlier announced, and blasted the media for allegedly misquoting him over the matter.
Speaking to journalists after inspecting the preparedness of Pwani University in Kilifi County Wednesday, Prof. Magoha said the media had formed a habit of misrepresenting his statements over the reopening of the institutions, saying this had made him look like a fool in the eyes of the public.
“I will not and shall not say anything with regards to the re-opening of schools because the Fourth Estate has continued religiously to write what I have not said and you keep also asking me the same question and then you go and portray things in a different manner,” he protested.
“We will not open (schools) in November. The fourth estate has continued religiously to write what I have not said. The opening of school will be in January 2021, but it will also depend on how the virus behaves and the ability of the schools to comply with some things,” he said.
The cabinet secretary said the government’s position on the reopening of schools, middle-level colleges and universities had not changed, noting that when the government closed down the schools after the first case of Covid-19 was reported that the reopening of the schools would be January 2021.
“That position has not changed, but depending on how the virus behaves, and on the ability of the schools to comply with certain things, then we shall relook.
“And what has the media done. They have made me look like somebody who did not go to school, who flip flops; today I say this tomorrow I say that. I want to tell you that I am above that kind of nonsense,” he fumed.
However, Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i (Interior) and George Magoha of Education will today meet national and regional officials to assess the status of schools ahead of the planned January 2021 reopening.
He said contrary to what the media had reported, the government was doing its best to ensure that schools comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines and protocols, adding that the government has set aside Sh1.9 billion to make desks for all primary and secondary schools in the country.
He said the government had developed a prototype of the type of desks it wants to be made for the schools and that all the 47 county commissioners had been called to Nairobi to take the design of the prototype to be replicated at the sub-county level.
