With the emergence of COVID 19 pandemic, the education sector around the globe was hard hit.
Over 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries found themselves abruptly out of school.
At least 100 million teachers and school personnel were also affected by the sudden closure of learning institutions.
The learning calendar, programs and curriculum was disrupted both at primary, secondary and tertiary levels in Kenya breaking down the traditional education calendar.
The calendar had final examinations for term three exams, which signified transition from one class to another, done at the end of the year.
I also wish to thank our parents who ensured that their children remained engaged during the extended period of school closure and that learning loss was minimized
CS Magoha
However this was disrupted in 2020 when COVID 19 forced learners to stay home for almost a year and worse in neighboring countries.
The ministry has since made strides to get back normalcy in education calendar.
Speaking in Nairobi during the release of the 2021 KCSE results of 826,807 candidates, Education CS George Magoha said the ministry has had to make sacrificial adjustments in the sector to return normalcy.
“Following the closure of all our learning institutions in mid-March 2020, some learners resumed studies in October 2020 while the rest resumed in January 2021,” the CS explained.
In order to build back the calendar, the education sector rallied with longer teaching and learning hours and shorter breaks at the end of each term.
Normalcy
Magoha noted that this was to ensure that the lost time is recovered.
“I am pleased that by the time we handover to the incoming government, the learning calendar will have normalized and our traditional learning calendar,” he disclosed.
I also wish to thank our parents who ensured that their children remained engaged during the extended period of school closure and that learning loss was minimized
Magoha
The calendar which begins in January of every year, is expected to fully resume next year with the last batch under disruption sitting their exams this December.
Magoha heckled the dedication of teachers who put their lives on the line to contribute to the critical aspect of national development.
“I also wish to thank our parents who ensured that their children remained engaged during the extended period of school closure and that learning loss was minimized,” he said.