Parents pray for smooth third term as schools open

Rebecca Nyambura and her children Eugene Oloo and Benta Akinyi shop for items at School Uniform Distributors in Nairobi, yesterday. Schools open tomorrow. [PHOTO: DAVID GICHURU/ STANDARD]

Schools open for third term tomorrow with hopes of calm as candidates prepare for national examinations.

Under the revised term dates released by the Ministry of Education, the third term starts on August 29 with schools expected to close on October 29.

This means today marks the end of two weeks holiday that came after a period of arson attacks that affected some 120 schools and saw destruction of property worth millions of shillings.

Parents who spoke to The Standard on Saturday were anxious as the government has been mum on measures put in place to ensure a smooth third term. “We expected a lot of activities during the two weeks closing period. It was all quiet and we do not know what arrangements the government has put in place to ensure no interruptions to learning this crucial term,” said a parent in Nairobi.

Details were scanty yesterday on the findings of a special committee set up by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to establish the cause of school fires.

A joint government meeting of secondary school heads, Ministry of Education officials, the clergy and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission resolved that the joint investigative team must reveal the root cause of the 2016 arson attacks in affected schools.

The government announced a special education stakeholders conference shall be held on September 23 to deliberate on how best to create a conducive learning environment.

“In the meantime, principals and boards of management should continue holding meetings with students to address any grievances,” reads a statement that was read by Anglican Church archbishop, Jackson Ole Sapit.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association national chairman John Awiti was optimistic that third term will run smoothly.

“We look forward to a very busy school term because this is the year of examinations. Candidates shall have a lot of preparations to do because this year no room for cheating shall be allowed,” said Mr Awiti.