The Ministry of Education has now issued new instructions to guide the smooth return to school for learners and institutions of learning across the country.

The ministry, in the guidelines, says the two-week disruption to learning will not disrupt the calendar for this term of learning.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang instructed schools to ensure that “term dates and activities are maintained as earlier released.”

The ministry also instructed schools to develop lesson recovery plans to ensure that everything that was supposed to be covered this term is indeed covered.

The second term of the school calendar was meant to run from April 29 to August 2nd this year.

On Thursday, the CS had indicated the possibility of these dates changing.

The decision not to alter the calendar for the second term was arrived at after school heads asked the ministry to allow the term to run as earlier planned so as not to alter the calendar of August co-curricular activities like the scheduled music festivals.

They also assured the ministry that they would work at ensuring they meet their teaching targets for the term within the time provided.

The ministry also wants schools to allow children especially those from the areas adversely affected by the floods, and those who lost everything, to be admitted to schools without insisting on the availability of uniforms and school fees.

At the same time, day schools must ensure they adhere to the 6am to 6pm window for learners' travel, while ensuring that the safety of learners is upheld, by assigning drivers and teachers to supervise the transportation of children.

Schools have also been given the discretion to set appropriate reporting and departure times for learners should the normal timing be disrupted by heavy rains and flooding.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) wants school administrators to ensure that this is observed.

The ministry has also asked administrators to monitor school attendance and report abnormal absenteeism, ensure that proper hygiene and sanitation practices are followed, and provide clean water to ensure the promotion of a healthy learning environment. 

The ministry says it will provide the learners with psychosocial support for learners to help them cope with the aftermath of the flooding disaster.