Covid-19 Education Response Committe Gives Kenyans 1 Week to Submit Views on Reopening of Schools

The National Covid-19 Education Response Committee (NCERC) Chaired by Dr. Sara Ruto has given the Kenyan public one week to submit their views on how to reopen schools following the Covid-19 global pandemic.

Through a public notice issued on the 14th of May, 2020, the NCERC Committee called for submission of memoranda on the best possible national response relating to the opening of schools in the country.

“Pursuant to article 10(1) and (2) of the Constitution and section 4(1) of the Basic Education Act, No. 14 of 2013, the Committee now invites all stakeholders and the
public to submit their views on the best possible national response in line with the above Terms of Reference for the basic education sub-sector,” read the NCEC notice.

The notice clarified that written memoranda may be submitted to the Secretariat, National COVID-19 Education Response Committee by e-mail or postal address on or before the 22nd of May 2020 by 5:00 p.m.

The official contacts given to the public include the email address covid19erc@kicd.ac.ke and postal address P.0. Box 30231-00100, Nairobi.

The views submitted should be on the following four concerns;
✓ Reorganize the school calendar.
✓ The fate of boarding schools
✓Access to education among the poor.
✓Health and safety measures for schools.

Professor George Magoha, the Cabinet Secretary of Education constituted The National Covid-19 Education Response Committee (NCEC) on the 12th of May, 2020.

The CS tasked the Committee to explore the best possible response strategies for the basic education sub-sector on the following:
Reopening of Basic Education institutions (Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary Schools, Teacher Training
Colleges and Adult Education Institutions).
Review and reorganize the school calendar as part of the COVID-19 post-recovery strategy.
Advise the Cabinet Secretary on ways of onboarding students/pupils when the schools re-open, among many others.

The committee will put into consideration the public views before advising the CS and the Ministry of Education on the way forward.