The government has delayed opening of schools to Monday, May 6, 2024, due to heavy rains witnessed across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has said in a statement that some schools have been adversely affected by the ongoing floods and that reopening schools as earlier scheduled would put learners and staff of flood-affected areas at risk.
“The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools is so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety of all affected school communities,” Machogu said.
This development comes as some schools are being used as shelters by displaced people across the country, including Nairobi, Tana River and Garissa, since the heavy rains began.
“The Ministry of Education has resolved to postpone the reopening of all primary and secondary schools by one week, to Monday, May 6, 2024,” he said.
He said the Ministry will work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains and provide regular updates on all developments as pertains to the education sector.
The decision to delay the reopening came hours after the National Parents Association proposed a change in opening dates for schools in affected regions thanks to challenges posed by the ongoing floods.
