Half-term break is for all learners, Education ministry clarifies

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Wednesday explained that all learners, including those in day schools, will start their mid-term break on Friday, November 19, and resume classes on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

“All children will go home. The ones in boarding schools even the ones in day schools will stay at home with their parents for a few days just to suck the pressure and then they come back,” he said.

Later the principal secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education Dr Julius Jwan sent out a circular clarifying the position.

“Reference is made to the Ministry of Education circular dated November 1 2021. The mid-term break applies to all secondary and primary schools,” stated Dr Jwan.

The circular sent to all regional and county directors of education is dated November 3 2021.

The ministry decided to give schools a break following a petition by the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association. The heads were concerned that lack of a break in the current crash programme was putting immense pressure on the learners.

As a result, a wave of unrest has spread throughout the country with school property worth millions of property destroyed. A number of dormitories have been torched and schools closed.

The latest to be closed is Chavakali Boys High School which was indefinitely closed today (Wednesday) morning after students went on the rampage last night and smashed window panes. A dormitory block at the school caught fire on Sunday evening.