Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has defended the closure of public and private schools, saying it was aimed at ensuring the curriculum is implemented uniformly.
Prof Kaimenyi said both public and private schools run on the same curriculum and noted that closing all schools was the logical thing to do.
"The strike disrupted all harmony and uniformity that exists in the management and delivery strategy of the 8-4-4 curriculum across board," said Kaimenyi.
Pitching a case for the closure of all schools, Kaimenyi said the Ministry of Education provides a time-specific school calendar, determined by the Quality Assurance and Standards system.
He added the ministry also develops minimum structured learning time, which all students must be exposed to, to guarantee the Desired Outcomes of Education.
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"These outcomes drive education policies and programmes and allow policy makers to determine how well an education system is doing," Kaimenyi explained.
The ministry said examination time table shall remain unchanged and asked all candidates to remain in school.
A circular signed by Education Secretary Leah Rotich said the decision to close schools was prompted by the fact that little learning has been going on apart from classes readying for examinations.
"Tension has been building among learners who have been left idle under the care of very few teachers," reads part of the circular.
