Magoha orders closure of schools from Tuesday to pave way for elections

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has directed that all basic education institutions close for a week starting Tuesday, August 2, ahead of the General Election set for next Tuesday, August 9.

This is a departure from an earlier directive by the CS on Sunday, where he instructed heads of schools to close on August 6 to prepare for the polls.

“Following consultation, I hereby convey the Government’s decision on the immediate closure of all basic education institutions from Tuesday, August 2 until Wednesday, August 10 to ensure that preparations and conduct of upcoming elections is carried out seamlessly,” CS Magoha said in a statement on Monday.

“Schools and Parents are advised to ensure that learners from ALL Basic Education institutions proceed on the half-term break effective Tuesday, 2nd August, 2022 and resume on Thursday 11th August, 2022,” he added.

Prof. Magoha had on Sunday stated that the schools will reopen as soon as the election results are announced.

"... we will not open again until the 15th," CS Magoha said at the Alliance Girls on Sunday after inspecting the ongoing construction of CBC classrooms at the institution

At the same time, CS Magoha stated that if there are repeat elections during his tenure, consultations will be held to determine whether students will sit for their exams.

"We may have to sit down as stakeholders and see whether it will be fair to examine the  children if they have lost a considerable amount of time. I pray that that does not happen, these children have suffered enough," Magoha said.