Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the president had to cancel all learning in the Kenya institutions. He did this to curb the spread of Corona virus. Since then the numbers of covid-19 patients has been increasing in a slow rate.
The president Uhuru Kenyatta and the Cabinet secretary of education George Magoha have been insisting that studying should be continued through the online social platforms. This has seen majority students and teachers in Kenya get engaged again with studies. Many apps are now in use to help in conferencing hence convince in transmitting knowledge.
Among the apps being used is Zoom app and what’s app.
Too private schools have then turned to the online classes to generate income in these hard times from the students’ fees.
As the economic impact from the pandemic begins to bite, there are fears that some private schools could be driven out of business due to loss of their main source of income: Fees.
Schools like Braeburn Schools, the Aga Khan Academy, Banda School, Cavina School, Premier Academy, Kenton School, Rusinga School and Sabis have reached an agreement with parents to charge fees for teaching students online.
The move of teaching students online will not only help in social distancing, but will also enhance a steady flow of income to the teachers. This is contrally to the Board teachers in public schools who are relaxing at home . Majority public school parents ain’t in position to pay school fees in these crisis days. Hence the teachers are prone to go home without salaries.
Some other institutions like Riara School and Makini School are also preparing to open virtual classes in coming weeks as others test their platforms in readiness for resuming learning in online sessions.
Private schools have warned of a possible financial crisis and their teachers and workers being laid off in the event that the global pandemic continued beyond April. This would also delay the start to the second term. However, Education Secretary George Magoha has so far ruled out postponement of national examinations
In the majority of the schools, learners are taught real time via apps like Zoom and Skype, giving the students them to interact and seek clarification from teachers, as some other students are on with the television and radio lessons.
“Most schools are opening the term tomorrow, and the classes will be done virtually. We have been forced to take a giant leap into the future,” said Jane Mwangi, secretariat coordinator of the Kenya Association of International Schools — the lobby group for elite private schools.
“Members of both the Kenya Association of International Schools (KAIS) and the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) are reducing fees by 15 to 30 percent because in this case, there is no physical interaction with the students but there are other processes involved including need for desktop, laptops and internet by teachers,” she said.
Parents are seeking bigger discounts, arguing that schools’ running costs have dropped and that some are being asked to assist with online classes.
“The fee discount should be more than 50 percent as the students will not use the school compound, stationary and other material provided by the school,” said a notice from Rusinga School parents to the management seen by the Business Daily.
Other parents fear a drop in their incomes following reduced economic activities brought by movement restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the infectious virus.
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