Why school reopening is a headache for Ministry of education

With inadequate classrooms to accommodate the current high number of students in public schools, a proposal to have between 15-20 learners per class presents a serious challenge considering the already overcrowded institutions.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha yesterday admitted that implementing this proposal will be a challenge and hinted that the government may rely on facemasks for each learner to lessen the impact.

“You know and I know and everybody knows that this is going to be a challenge. The more reason we must make sure that masks are made of the right material and that they are of good size for the learners,” said Magoha.

Prof Magoha announced yesterday that each learner will be given two masks, adding that enhancing proper usage will also be a challenge. The CS spoke yesterday in Kitui town after touring Kitui County Textile Centre (Kicotec), where some of the masks are being made.

Magoha also toured Rivatex East Africa in Eldoret where he inspected the progress of manufacturing of the face masks. Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu said Kicotec has enough capacity to produce high quality masks and in large numbers, noting that a single tailor was currently producing 1,500 masks per shift.

Magoha said his ministry had held discussions with five different face mask manufacturers in the country, including the National Youth Service (NYS), to ensure they are ready before school’s re-open.