Magoha orders immediate closure of schools ahead of elections

Education CS George Magoha has ordered the immediate closure of all schools effective Tuesday, August 2.

In a statement on Monday, Magoha said the schools will remain closed until August 10 to allow for preparations and conduct of the August 9 general elections.

“Schools and parents are advised to ensure that learners from all basic education institutions proceed on their final half term effective Tuesday, August 2, and resume Thursday, August 11, 2022,” Magoha said. 

In the event there are repeat elections, the dates are subject to change and this may affect the national examinations scheduled to be held later this year.

Schools are traditionally used as polling and tallying centres every election year.

Most of the institutions are primary, secondary schools, universities and technical training institutes.

A gazette notice by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission indicated that almost 250 schools will be used as tallying centres.

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Another 17 institutions of higher education will be used as county tallying centres while 230 schools in select constituencies will be used as third schedule constituency tallying centres.

Normally, this year’s polls would have been held when learners are away from school for the August long holiday.

But the Covid-19 pandemic caused the government to reschedule the school calendar leading to realigned school terms and holidays.

The Ministry of Education’s school calendar had previously directed that learners break on August 11 and resume after three days.

A earlier circular indicated that schools that will serve as tallying centres would break for midterm on Monday, August 1.

But Magoha said the directive for the immediate closure of schools on Tuesday supersedes all earlier communication on the closure of basic education institutions.