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All schools in Kenya, including international schools, will reopen on January 4th, 2021 following a 9-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha made the announcement on Monday following a meeting with education stakeholders.
“All schools will reopen fully on the 4th of January 2021. This will apply to PP1 and 2, Grade 1, 2 and 3, Class 5, 6 and 7 and Form 1, 2, and 3 learners,” Magoha said.
The gradual reopening of schools began in October where Grade Four, Class Eight, and Form Four students resumed learning.
January 4th will mark the beginning of the second term of the school calendar and will end on March 19th.
All learners, except Class 8 and Form 4, will then proceed on a seven-week holiday to allow KCPE and KCSE candidates to sit for their exams.
Learners in Grade 4 and incoming Form One students will remain at home as other learners complete the third term.
“I wish to assure the country that the government is determined to ensure a safe reopening and learning of our schools. In doing so, we are drawing important lessons from the partial reopening that has taken place since October. We are confident that we will remain on the right trajectory to finding the winning formula that will ensure our learning institutions are safe for our learners and teachers,” Magoha said.
The announcement on the reopening of schools comes amid rising Covid-19 cases across the country.
A number of schools in different parts of the country have also reported cases of students, teachers, and members of the non-teaching staff testing positive for Covid-19.
Over the weekend, 38 KCSE candidates at Kabarnet Boys High School in Baringo County tested positive for COVID-19.