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{
"id": 991265,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/991265/?format=api",
"text_counter": 111,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": {
"id": 12849,
"legal_name": "Julius Kipbiwot Melly",
"slug": "julius-kipbiwot-melly"
},
"content": " The question was what measures the Ministry of Education has put in place to address the issue of learning and examination programmes for schools, colleges, universities and other institutions in the country, without compromising the education calendar and subsequent years for learners, including graduations and other ceremonies. Just like in other sectors, the COVID-19 situation has also affected the education sector adversely, including the normal learning calendar. Learning institutions also closed early for the first term holiday. In addition, the opening for second term has been rescheduled by one month, effective 4th May 2020 as the Ministry continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and consults with other relevant Government agencies before undertaking any further mitigation measures in the sector. In the meantime, the Ministry, through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), is delivering the curriculum through virtual learning and other digital platforms, including television, radio, the Kenya Education Cloud and digital contents in CD. Universities have also switched to online platforms. The calendar for administering the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations remains unchanged. If the Coronavirus persists thereby precipitating a change in the examination calendar, the Ministry will take appropriate action and inform the Kenyan public. On the measures the Ministry is putting in place to address the gap that e-learning is not equitable to all learners due to limited or no access to the internet, equipment and gadgets and other infrastructure such as electricity in other areas in the country, the Cabinet Secretary responded that upon reopening schools, coverage of the curriculum will resume from the point of coverage as at mid-March. This is important because many areas in this country do not have internet and people do not even have access to radio. This will ensure that all learners who do not have access to e-learning are sufficiently accommodated. In order to ensure that as many learners as possible have access to the out of classrooms lessons, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, through the KICD, is using a variety of methods to deliver virtual lessons. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the KICD in partnership with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) had been airing radio lessons for a cumulative four to five hours a day. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the radio lessons that were being aired have been up-scaled to eight hours per day. In order to take care of learners in rural areas, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, through the KICD, has partnered with over 15 regional radio stations to broadcast out of classroom learning lessons. The use of radio is more prevalent in rural areas, especially where there is no electricity since dry cells are prevalent in rural areas. Dry cell batteries have been used to power the radio for many years. Adequate sensitisation is also being carried out on continuous basis through mainstream and social media as well as use of bulk SMSs to reach all parents, including those in rural areas, to tune to radio lessons for their children. Further, the KICD is using the Kenya Education Cloud, where digital items like e-learning materials are uploaded and learners access them free of charge. The last question is if digital e-learning and use of other devices will, indeed, be rolled out, what measures the Government has put in place to ensure effective teaching dissemination and learning for all pupils and students in schools, colleges, universities and other institutions The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}