Worries for Parents and Teachers as Schools Reopen Next Week

Worries for Parents and Teachers as Schools Reopen Next Week.

After President William Ruto ordered the resumption of learning next week, parents find themselves grappling with school expenses and transportation challenges. Both teachers and parents are confronted with hurdles like ensuring student safety during rainy days, addressing sanitation issues, and establishing a conducive learning environment.

There are concerns regarding whether parents will receive financial relief, how to recover lost learning time, and providing psychosocial support for children who have lost family members due to flooding.

However, on Tuesday, President Ruto reassured parents about their children’s safety, stating that the decision to reopen schools came after confirmation from the weatherman that the rains would subside in the upcoming days.

He made this announcement during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Kajiado Central and Laikipia North constituencies at State House in Nairobi. This decision comes after two postponements of the reopening due to heavy rains across the country.

The Ministry of Education initially scheduled learning to resume on April 29, 2024, but postponed it for another week due to worsening conditions caused by the severe rains. Although the Cabinet approved the reopening on May 6, President Ruto postponed it indefinitely due to the imminent effects of heavy rainfall and the dangers posed by Cyclone Hidaya.

The heavy rains also damaged bridges and roads connecting many schools, raising concerns about children’s safety. However, President Ruto assured that the government would collaborate with development partners to repair the damaged infrastructure.

Some parents expressed frustration about having to pay for transportation again due to delayed communication from Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu regarding the postponement.

The exorbitant cost of living and the devastation caused by torrential rains have left many parents financially strained, making it challenging to pay fees on time. Silas Obuhatsa, Chairperson of the National Parents Association, highlighted the property loss and displacement caused by flooding, suggesting that families who have suffered such losses should be granted leniency in fee payments, considering the hardships they have endured.

Worries for Parents and Teachers as Schools Reopen Next Week