Why school reopening is a headache for Ministry of education

The CS said the ministry will also avail thermo-guns and sanitisers to schools in line with the laid down safety measures before learners are allowed back to school.
He said preparations had already started across the country by a joint team from his ministry and the Ministry of Health to ensure they comply with established safety measures.
“The elephant in the room is implementation of social distancing because our schools are already filled to capacity,” he added.
Sources familiar with schools opening plans revealed that with limited facilities to effectively implement social distancing, Education ministry might implement a shift system to avoid overcrowding.
Magoha revealed that there were plans to increase the number of classes, but questions have emerged on whether this will have been realised by September.

Some education stakeholders have proposed use of tents as short-term measures to achieving social distancing.

Some Sh2.1 billion has been allocated for the construction of additional classrooms in secondary schools and another Sh700 million towards improvement of infrastructure in low-cost boarding schools in arid and semi-arid areas.

Also allocated is Sh1.9 billion for the provision of at least 250,000 locally fabricated desks for secondary and primary schools.

Having enough teaching staff for the split classrooms will also pose a serious challenge for the ministry.

In primary schools, one teacher presently mans a class of about 50 children. This means that this class will be split into two, requiring two teachers. Teachers will be trained on safety measures ahead of reopening.

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