Make first term safe for learners and teachers

Kindergarten kids and their teacher Phones Ajayo during a class lesson at Phonestar Academy at Bidii Center in Kitale on June 18, 2021.[Stafford Ondego,Standard]

In a complete change of routine, the new school year begins today. Ordinarily, and for as long as Kenyans can remember, a new school year usually begins in January and runs through to December. This state of affairs was upset by the advent of in March 2020.

Closure of learning institutions was among the measures the government took to stop the spread of Covid-19. The uncertainty surrounding the virus, for which there was no cure or vaccine, led to our schools remaining closed for 10 months. The need to recover that lost time necessitated a rescheduling of the school calendar, which education experts hope will go back to normal by January 2023.