No school fees: Parents caught off-guard after Magoha directive

A section of teachers and parents in Kuresoi, Nakuru County have dismissed the directive by Education CS George Magoha to reopen schools.

Also Read: CS Magoha announces reopening for Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students

They expressed fear saying most schools in Bararget and Kamara lack water making sanitisation a challenge and no funds have been released to the institutions.

“It’s unacceptable that the Government is hurrying at the expense of our children,” one parent said.

Some parents also intimated that they are not prepared with school fees as the COVID-19 pandemic affected their earnings.

In Siaya County, parents expressed their dismay over the directive saying Prof. Magoha did not give them enough notice.

One Gregory Omondi said the government ought to have given them more time to prepare for the reopening.

“Less than one week to prepare the children is not enough,” he said.

Speaking to Radio Ramogi, the parents suggested alternative reopening dates in January as they are unable to raise school fees at this time.

Some also questioned whether schools are adequately prepared to ensure Grade 4 and Standard 8 pupils as well as Form 4 students do not contract coronavirus.

Meanwhile, a section of parents in Baringo County have vowed not to send their children to school on Monday saying Education CS George Magoha ambushed them.

Some said they have no school fees after the coronavirus pandemic hit while others noted that over 26 schools were flooded following the rising volumes of Lake Baringo and Bogoria.

In Chuka, a section of parents also said they were not ready to take children back to school due to lack of finances.

They called on the government to allow parents to take the children to school regardless of financial status.

A section of parents in Homa Bay county have also opposed the announcement to reopen schools due to the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Some of the parents who spoke to Radio Ramogi in Homa bay town opposed the plans to reopen schools saying the government has not put in place adequate measures in the learning institutions that would prevent the spread of COVID 19 among the learners.

They argue that the move will put the lives of students at risk because they will be travelling from COVID-19 hotspots back to schools and will interact with their colleagues.

By Bennadine Tiemoi, Kiprotich Kimetto, Geroge Amolo, Lisper Kithure, Allan Obiero