Reactions to CS Magoha's announcement on school reopening

 CS Magoha's announcement has been met with mixed reactions from Kenyans, with some hailing the move as others criticized it.

Education CS George Magoha has announced that students in Grade 4, Class 8 and Form Four are expected back in school on October 12, 2020.  According to the CS, KCPE examinations will start on March 22, 2021 and end on March 24, 2021. KCSE exams on the other hand are to start on March 25, 2021 and end on April 16, 2021. The announcement has been met with mixed reactions from Kenyans, with some hailing the move as others criticized it. Some of those opposed to the reopening argued that many parents have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic hence, cannot afford to readmit their children in school. Here’s a sample of the reactions:

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Why open for Grade 4 and leave Class 7 at home?? . Yet Grade 4 are more vulnerable and from your timetable they have no Exams Scheduled.

— awadh jamal (@AwadhAbuJamal) October 6, 2020

Parents are the largest stakeholders in the education sector. This ministry could have given them a couple of weeks probably to prepare and send the kids to school. The cabinet secretary should resign immediately, this is utter incompetence.

— Titus Jonns (@titusjonns) October 6, 2020

This is so unfair........ what about the parents who lost jobs will you pay their school fees especially those in private schools and it will be unreasonable transferring them since it will be more expensive.... consider changing your desicion to be fair for everyone

— Vee (@Veeolah) October 6, 2020

Thanks to Almighty God for that. Congrats our minister

— Serah Nduku (@NdukuSerah) October 6, 2020

That means next year Grade 4, class 8 and form 4 will be empty. What will happen to those in grade 3, Class 7 and form 3 next year? Will they be moved to next class without completing the syllabus or repeat? will we have double form 1 next year? @StateHouseKenya @SpokespersonGoK

— #SwitchOffKPLC (@Nashpae) October 6, 2020

The C's once mentioned that he will reopen schools when zero cases are reported continuously for TWO weeks...I have a feeling that someone is pushing their agenda... January 2021 should be the right time pic.twitter.com/2eThcvYUsp

— Kariz Rizkah ???????????? (@rizkah07) October 6, 2020

Parents were earlier informed to prepare for schools reopening, only that the specific dates had not been issued. This means that parents were supposed to have prepared, just waiting for the dates to be announced.

— John Nduati (@JohnNduati_) October 6, 2020

What about 1st year through 3rd students in colleges and universities? Aren’t they also losing valuable time by staying out of schools?

— Zax (@iUnkle) October 6, 2020

Am a bit worried about our children,,let's just pray that there will be no second wave ,,but parents have to get school fees and fare for some students goes very far so giving them 5 days to prepare it's a bit misplaced

— Sonofthunder (@Paul34435994) October 6, 2020

How do you expect parents to put things in order in a week? Considering most families moved to rural areas during the pandemic.

— Em_Jay (@suleiman2310) October 6, 2020

For those of us who lost jobs due to covid, Shall we be allowed to transfer candidates and register them in shags where we relocated?

— Name cannot be blank (@tessnwi7) October 6, 2020

So this implies that the entire 2nd & 3rd term content plus revision will be covered within roughly 4 months? That's too much haste!

— George_W (@GeorgeG85780665) October 6, 2020