Whenever the media is invited for a Presidential Presser you know headline pronouncements are in the offing and those headlines are often with far reaching repurcussions. In the run-up to the address the fourth estate and Kenyans alike speculate on what might the content of the presser. Well, they are not always off the mark because the addresses are always a culmination of ubiquitous event (s) of national concern or should I say of heavy political consequence. The latest one called on 3rd May was no different.
Apart from tragically ending lives of hapless Kenyans, the devastating downpour has left the country in a turmoil as the the frail infrastructural establishments are being swept away by the raging waters which have stopped at nothing in ravaging down all corners of the nation. The raging floods have plunged the country into a serious humanitarian crisis last seen in the Covid-19 era where lives became couldn't be more fragile.
Such predicaments call for meticulous leadership from the top echolons of power and the Presidency has to take the driving seat. As a tradition, the President always takes the stage to address the nation on strides made to combat or at least remedy the situation.
On most people's lips was the fate of our learners in basic education institutions. No way the address was going to end without the explicit proclamation as far as the the reopening is concerned. Originally, schools were scheduled to open on 29th April but due to the floods devastation, the date was rescheduled for 6th May. One week was not going to bring the situation to normalcy but at least they acted, didn't they?
As we geared towards the very date, the Meteorological Department poured cold water on any plans to get to the academic activities up and running. The forecast painted a grim picture of the month as they predicted continued downpour throughout the month and tropical cyclone 'Hidaya', one of its kind, at the shores of Indian ocean along the East Africa's coast.
Armed with that Intel, concrete decree on reopening was on top of the agenda of the day. Sanctity of human life and especially the innocent lives of our children was to going to be at peril if indecisions were to carry the day.
True to most, the feeling of the public court prevailed. Risking the leaners in the midst of the humanitarian crisis wasn't worth it. We have had more precarious situations and risking our children is obviously unnecessary and last on to-do list.
The President directed the Ministry of Education to halt any plans of reopening until further notice. This directive came despite the docket's Cabinet Secretary earlier releasing guidelines ahead of planned reopening on 6th. In that case, the decree superseded any other pronouncement hence schools remain closed indefinitely. On face value, the directive is as simple as stay-at-home instruction but it has ripple effects on a host of groups. Indefinite closure may mean longer than expected or shorter than expected but what does it actually mean to you?
Photo credit:Adobe
On the academic calendar...
The academic calender is one aspect that cannot go unscathed in this quagmire. The term had originally fourteen weeks. At least two weeks will be gone before learning resumes. If only two weeks will be affected, the ministry may just leave the calendar as it is and let schools do in-house adjustments as far as school programs are concerned. If the stay-at home decree extends beyond two weeks then, the term may eat into the August holiday or a whole new calendar may be released. This means the December long holiday may as well be affected. Learners will have to adjust.
On the parents/guardians ...
This is one lot which has been caught in cross hairs. Their financial behavior will come under heavy scrutiny in this period. Any miscalculation will definitely jeopardize their children academic run for considerable period. The only safe ones are those who had already made school fee payments either partially or fully. The other group of 'let's wait and see...' may have to deep in empty pockets when school reopen out of the blues.
On the stakeholders...
Schools are not just learning centers, they are social institutions which bring together multiple stakeholders. Among the key ones are suppliers or essentially the businesses whose huge chunk of market share are basic learning institutions. In this case we are also including the small business which depend on college students for sales. It's instructive to note that the decree affects TTCs and TVETs as they share the same calender provided by the Ministry. Business will be on a slow mode, suppliers especially of perishable goods will also have to find alternative markets or simply opt to halt production. This will definitely hurt their enterprises.
Regardless of your walk of life, the closure will have an effect on your overall living however minute.
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