Schools get green light to resume rivalry on the pitch once again

Sinyolo Girls Judith Opondo (left) in action against Tigoi Girls Ephy Awuor. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

Schools are ready to do battle outside the classrooms once again after the government allowed for the resumption of school games.

Sports in schools were suspended in March 2020 when the government banned all sporting activities in the country after the first Covid-19 case was reported in Kenya.

However, after the government eased Covid-19 protocols, sports resumed in universities and colleges but did not resume at the primary and secondary school levels.

However, Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan has now okayed the full resumption of sporting activities in all learning institutions.

“Schools have been authorised to start minimal co-curricular activities. We don’t want to say the year is shorter so that students must stay in class and learn all the time,” Jwan said.

Speaking after the release of the 2021 KCSE results in Nairobi, Jwan said time was rife for the school games to resume.

“We have sent out the schedule for the resumption of games in schools starting from the next academic year,” he said.

“I urge school principals to fully engage and prepare learners for co-curricular activities,” he added.

The resumption of school games especially in primary and secondary schools will be a major boost to the learners who have been inactive for the past two years due to the suspension of the games.

The 2022 academic year started yesterday with the first term. However, this will be the shortest academic year as it is set to run to December.

Eliud Wambua, the assistant director of quality assurance and standards in the Ministry of Education said the calendar of events was out.

“We worked on the calendar sometimes back and we were waiting for the go-ahead by the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education George Magoha and the PS,” he said.

Following the new directives, Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) is set to come up with a calendar of events on the guidelines of the ministry.

KSSA Vice-Chairman Kipchumba Maiyo said it is a reprieve for schools as they prepare their teams for co-curricular activities.

“We shall have an executive meeting to deliberate on the new development and release our calendar of events for the national games. Regional and County associations will further give dates and venues for their respective games,” Maiyo said.

Term one games include athletics, cross country, decathlon, heptathlon, basketball, hockey, swimming and handball while Term two games involve football under-19 and 16, volleyball, racquet games, and netball.