KUPPET Warns of A Crisis on Prolonged Closure of Schools

KUPPET Warns of A Crisis on Prolonged Closure of Schools. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised concerns about the prolonged closure of schools, warning that its repercussions will linger in the country’s future.

President William Ruto recently instructed the Ministry of Education (MoE) to delay the reopening of schools, originally scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024, citing the ongoing heavy rains and floods.

Moffats Okisai, the Executive Secretary of KUPPET Busia, criticized the decision to extend the school holiday, stating that it comes at a critical time when the education sector is still recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Okisai highlighted how the pandemic disrupted the academic calendar and reduced students’ contact hours with teachers, while the syllabus and workloads remained unchanged.

He questioned the timing of directives from the Cabinet Secretary of Education, Ezekiel Machogu, urging for updates on the number of schools affected by the floods and the mitigation measures in place.

Okisai also expressed concerns about the challenges teachers will face when schools reopen, as many learners may have forgotten previously taught material.

Furthermore, Okisai emphasized the long-term consequences of ill-informed decisions on education, warning that compromised learning could lead to inadequately prepared professionals across various fields.

He cautioned that the effects of the current situation could manifest in future societal issues, including accidents, infrastructure failures, economic mismanagement, and healthcare challenges.

In conclusion, Okisai stressed the importance of addressing the situation promptly to minimize the loss of students’ time and ensure effective mitigation measures are implemented to mitigate the impact of the floods. KUPPET Warns of A Crisis on Prolonged Closure of Schools.