Schools must reopen tomorrow- CS Amina promises

Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Amina Mohammed, has insisted that schools will reopen tomorrow ( Thursday 3rd December 2019) as scheduled. This is despite the strike threat from the Kenya National Union of Teachers, KNUT. Speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) today, Dr Amina said the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, is doing all it can to avert industrial action by teachers.

“We support the TSC in efforts to preempt the Teachers’ strike. Schools must open on Thursday (tomorrow),” said Dr Amina.

Amina said the TSC boss, Dr Nancy Macharia, has pronounced herself on the issue of continued teaching. “The Education Ministry and the rest of the Government are fully in support of that pronouncement. Schools will reopen on 03/01/2019 and we will do everything possible to ensure that learning continues uninterrupted,” the CS promised.

The Cabinet Secretary was addressing stakeholders on the expected roll out of the new Competency Based Curriculum, CBC. Amina said successful roll out of the CBC was the ministry’s biggest priority this year.

“We will not tolerate any excuses in the implementation of the CBC; we must succeed,” the CS added. According to Dr Amina, lessons under CBC in early years Education will last for 30 minutes, each.

The ministry has, at the same time said that, it has set up solid and effective communication plan to help in smooth new Curriculum implementation process. “We welcome regular feedback on CBC implementation. We will set up a call centre for public participation,” Dr Amina added. To ensure smooth implementation of the CBC and hundred percent transition, Amina indicated that there will be country-wide monitoring exercise from Monday next week.