Education CS George Magoha released a new Directive on the transition of students from private schools to public schools. Magoha advised the heads of primary and secondary schools to accept students from private institutions in January 2021.He also said that candidates from private schools will also be temporarily admitted to public schools. “All pupils who are unable to return to their private schools will be admitted to public schools.
KCPE and KCSE candidates will study in public schools, but they will return to private schools during the exams to enable them to attend the exams,” said the CS, speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of Ida Odinga’s Library at Ogande Girls High School in Homa Bay.
Many private schools were shut down as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government struggled to cushion these institutions from the impact of the virus by opting to help public schools and teachers enrolled under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Parents who had children in private schools hurried to seek admission to government schools. Head Teachers lamented that the exercise would lead to overcrowding in classrooms.
Some even claimed that they were not equipped with enough facilities to accommodate new students.
Magoha warned the school’s heads against refusing students’ entry to private schools.
He argued that parents were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and head coaches should even consider sending students away for school fees.