Elderly Teachers Recalled Back to School

The Ministry of Education has reversed an order requiring teachers who are above the age of 58 to keep off learning institutions as part of the government’s efforts to protect the vulnerable population. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang on Wednesday, January 13 revealed that all teachers above the age of 58 can report back to schools.Kipsang was speaking as he toured a number of schools in Bomet county to assess the status of schools after students resumed classes on Monday, January 4. The PS visited Mulot Girls High School and Kaproret Primary school as he interacted with a number of students and teachers. Education PS Dr Belio Kipsang address the media in Nairobi in 2019Facebook Kipsang stated the elderly teachers can now participate in physical learning, so long as they observe the safety measures recommended by the Ministry of Health. The teachers were, however, asked to observe all the Covid-19 prevention and control measures to ensure they are safe from the deadly virus.While in Mulot Girls High School, Kipsang asked teachers to wear masks properly, saying students will wear them properly depending on how teachers wear them.In November, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia directed teachers aged 58 years and above to work from home in a bid to safeguard them from Covid-19 infections.The teachers were assured of their job security as she noted that no tutor would be sacked for working from home, in line with a presidential directive to protect vulnerable groups.While addressing the nation early in November, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed State and public officers aged above 58 years and those with compromised immunity to work remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.The stay-at-home directive has led to a number of schools facing a shortage of teachers which prompted TSC to announce vacancies.In December, TSC announced 15,226 new vacancies for teachers across the country with the Deputy Principal, Curriculum Support Officers (CSO), Head Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher among the positions advertised.The country has been reporting a reduced number of Covid-19 cases with Health CS Mutahi Kagwe noting the curve has been constant but the country was yet to flatten it. A file image of a teacher in a classroomFacebook