KICD extends its broadcast for schools programme

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) will from Monday next week expand the existing broadcast for schools programme in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The programmes that run on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC’s) English service for four-and-a-half hours will now be aired for six hours.

The programmes will now air from 9.15am to 1pm, then again from 2pm to 5pm.

Plans are also underway to air Kiswahili lessons for one hour in a week day on KBC’S radio Taifa.

KICD has posted a tentative timetable for the radio lessons on its website, which caters for all learners from grade 3 to form four. KICD acting Chief Executive Officer Joel Mabonga said its television station – the Edu Channel – will also broadcast lessons.

Mabonga said the move is to ensure that children are not left behind in terms of learning progress after schools were shut down to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Elsewhere, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) and All Saints Cathedral have suspended Sunday services until further notice, to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

PCEA has announced suspension of Sunday services and gatherings, but allowed individuals to access places of worship for private prayers.

The church is however urging the government to consider suspension of all loan repayment and interests through financial institutions and provide necessary utilities such as water and electricity without charges.

To further cushion the masses, PCEA is asking the government to lift taxation on essential commodities such as food and sanitary items.

At the same time, All Saints Cathedral Anglican Church has also suspended all Sunday church services and cancelled meetings that were to be held at the premises from today (Wednesday).

The church however said it will remain open for individual prayers. Couples that had scheduled weddings at the church in the next four weeks have been advised to cancel them.

It said weddings conducted in exceptional circumstances will only be attended by not more than 10 people and last 30 minutes at most.

So far Kenya has confirmed 4 Coronavirus cases. 184,976 cases have been confirmed in 159 countries across the world and 7,529 deaths.