KENYA IS the last country in East Africa to reopen schools for students after closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions returned to primary and secondary schools, after they had been at home for nine months.

However, children from certain year groups had already been at school since October, as they needed to prepare for exams that had been put off due to the pandemic.

Some parents were concerned about their children’s safety, as not all classrooms had the necessary resources for social distancing.

Safety guidelines

On Sunday, Education Minister George Magoha said that the government had tried to make sure both teachers and students in schools were safe – by distributing desks and soap.

Teachers and parents have also been given guidelines. Teachers over the age of 58 should work remotely or teach outside in open spaces.

Parents that can afford to have been asked to buy masks for their children, and the government has pledged to foot the bill for students in need.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers has raised their concerns, with leader Wilson Sossion pointing out that some day schools do not have running water for hand washing.

Speaking to the BBC, he added that funds for thermometers and sanitisers had not been provided.

On Sunday, Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo announced that schools in his country would also reopen in January,

Universities are expected to open from January 9, and primary and secondary schools are expected to follow on January 15.

The president added that all schools would be provided with protective gear.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that school closures can have wide-ranging negative effects such as permanent dropout, children falling behind and impacts on social and mental wellbeing.

The organisation points out that some children access vital nutrition and information in school, as well as receiving an education.

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