Calls for learners to study in shifts as schools reopens

Former President of the East African Law Society James Aggrey Mwamu addressing the Press in Kisumu. He has urged the Government to allow learners in various institutions of learning to study in shifts-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

January 5, 2021

Calls for learners to study in shifts as schools reopens

THE Government has been told to allow learners in various institutions of learning to study in shifts as schools reopened yesterday across the country.

Former President of the East African Law Society James Aggrey Mwamu says this is the best way to help in achieving social distance among pupils and students who have resumed learning process both in Primary and secondary schools across the country.

Speaking in Kisumu, Lawyer Mwamu said the issue where the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Education Prof. George Magoha said schools authorities should be innovative enough and allow learners to study under trees is very unfortunate.

Mwamu says in some places like Kano plains in Kisumu County among other places, some schools have no trees where learners can study under them, adding that some schools like in Nyando Constituency were submerged under water due to water backflow from the Lake Victoria.

“We seems to be having a very big problem because the Government is not innovate at all. Corona has been there with us since March last year so it can’t be said that it is lack of finance. They knew that at one particular time the schools were going to re-open,” Mwamu says.

He fully supports Principals and head teachers who have suggested that learning be conducted in shifts where grade one to four can have theirs in the morning and from class five to eight can learn in the afternoon.

“This would actually help in easing pressure in schools. I have gone round in a number of schools in Kisumu County through Mwalimu James Japheth Mwamu Foundation where we have been donating hand washing tanks, sanitizers and face masks and have realized that in some schools there is no enough classrooms, a number of pupils have no face masks and even there are no enough desks to sit on,” he adds.

Mwamu who is also the President of Mwalimu James Japheth Mwamu Foundation says the Government should even come up with issue of erecting temporary tents in schools across the country if it can’t afford to build additional classes to accommodate learners and help in achieving the issue of social distance.

“The lack of preparations that is there in the Ministry of Education is very astounding and it cannot be that it is lack of money because this is just a matter of proper planning. A country like Rwanda have done very well in terms of planning. We are asking the government to come up with better alternatives to deal with this issue,” Mwamu further says.

Schools across the country re-opened yesterday after nine months holiday that has been occasioned by the closure of learning institutions after the country reported its first case of corona virus in March last year.

There was partial re-opening of schools where learners in Grade four, class eight and form four candidates resumed learning in October last year for their second term that ended last month of December.  

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