Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has told off teachers in various schools who are asking learners to report back to school on Monday with sanitizers. 

Prof Magoha said no sanitizers will be allowed in schools and that soap and water will be sufficient to keep their hands clean and those will be provided for learners reporting back.

“Teachers asking students to bring sanitizers - this is not allowed! The question of writing to parents to buy gallons of sanitizers, where are you going to take them? That must stop!” said Prof Magoha.

The CS was speaking after inspecting desks delivered to Kibra Secondary School in Nairobi, where he ordered that all schools purchase bar soap if they cannot afford liquid soap.

He also told parents to purchase cloth masks for their children reporting back to school as this was now part of school uniform.

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“Masks will be provided to schools in slums areas and there will be no corruption in mask distribution. No child will be turned away though no child will be admitted without a mask. If you can buy the surgical masks, buy them if you can afford,” he added.

He however admitted that schools will face a huge challenge in maintaining social distance.

“Don’t come in Monday and say this this desk is not 1 metre apart….you will see no 1 metre.”

Prof Mahoga announced that the government would start building schools in various parts of the country, while urging school heads to be lenient with parents whose children lack fees.

Learners in PP1, PP2; Grades 1, 2 and 3; Class 5, 6 and 7; as well as Forms 1, 2 and 3 will commence their second term on January 4 and close on March 19 alongside Grade 4 and Class 8 and Form 4 candidates.

The national exams calendar has not been released yet, even as the CS said non-candidate classes will proceed for a 7-week break to allow for administration, marking and grading.

Learners in Grade 4 and incoming Form 1 are expected to stay at home as other learners terminate their Term 3, as all 4-year-olds join PP1 in July and , Grade 4 pupils join Grade 5.