Magoha orders immediate closure of schools ahead of elections

Education Cabinet secretary George Magoha has issued a directive to all schools to close by tomorrow to enable seamless election preparations.

The decision came as a surprise as the CS said the decision had been made upon further consultations. He added that learners will resume school on Thursday, August 11, 2022. He further emphasized that the decision supersedes the earlier communication regarding the closure of schools.

“Schools and parents are advised to ensure that learners from all basic education institutions proceed on their half-term breaks effective Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and resume on Thursday, August 11, 2022,” Magoha noted.

The announcement was made today despite being contrary to his announcement on Sunday, July 31, that schools will close on August 6. CS has urged teachers to ensure the students are at home by tomorrow evening for their 10-day midterm break.

This change of plans comes amid tension in the campaigns ongoing as the political parties finalize their moves for the election on 9^th August.

The CS said the opening dates would be subject to change in case of a repeat election as he affirmed that KCPE and KCSE candidates would bear the brunt of the changes should a repeat election occurs.

“We may have to sit down as stakeholders and see whether it will be fair to examine the children if they will have lost a considerable amount of time, I pray that that does not happen, these children have suffered enough,” he added.

The earlier closure is due to a recent gazette notice that indicated up to 250 schools will be used as tallying centres in the upcoming August 9 Polls.

A rush and pledge for peaceful elections are sounded as the Ministry of Education race against time to normalize the academic calendar in January 2023.