Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday, August 30, weighed in on the contentious decision to reopen schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ruto was speaking during a church service at African Inland Church (AIC) Pipeline in Embakasi South, Nairobi when he touched on the resumption of learning.
The Deputy President revealed that the government would make numerous consultations before making a decision to reopen schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I want give assurances to parents and other stakeholders that no decision will be made by the government without extensive consultations with all the stakeholders in our education sector because children are sensitive to any nation.
“No decision will be made until we are sure as a government that our children are safe. I assure all others across Kenya that we will consult extensively and ensure that our children will go to school only when we are sure that they are safe,” he noted.
Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha on Saturday, August 29, alerted parents to brace themselves for earlier school resumption dates should the Covid-19 curve flatten in the next two or three weeks.
Plans to reopen schools in September were shelved by the government due to the rising number of cases back in July as Magoha declared the 2020 education calendar lost.
Due to the country registering a reduced number of cases in late August, the Ministry of Education is mulling on an early reopening.
Ruto asked leaders pushing for a constitutional change to give priority to the needs of the people and urged that calls for amendments to the constitution needed not be informed by political and personal interests.
“Those of us who have been privileged as leaders should be selfless and focus on offering solutions to the problems bedevilling our country,’ he stated.
The Deputy President further added that the Covid-19 crisis had led to many Kenyans suffering, an issue he explained needed urgent attention from the country’s leadership.
