The Ministry of Education has firmly ruled out an early nationwide closure of schools, insisting that the academic calendar will proceed as scheduled.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the government has no plans to disrupt learning for millions of students because of isolated cases occurring in a small number of schools.
The clarification comes amid growing concern from parents, education stakeholders, and members of the public following a series of unrest incidents that have affected some secondary schools in recent weeks. The incidents have led to calls for the Ministry to consider an early closure or an unscheduled midterm break to ease tensions among learners.
However, the Ministry maintains that the vast majority of schools remain stable and operational.
According to Bitok, learning continues uninterrupted in more than 99 percent of the country’s approximately 9,500 schools, making it unnecessary to alter the national academic calendar.
“We are not going to disrupt the school calendar because of a few schools that are messing up our program,” the PS said.
He emphasized that learners are expected to remain in school until the officially scheduled second-term midterm break, which will take place from June 24 to June 28, 2026.
Bitok noted that schools have only a few weeks remaining before the scheduled break and urged learners, parents, and school administrators to adhere to the existing calendar.
The PS argued that closing schools early would negatively affect academic progress and disrupt ongoing learning programs.
“We must stick to the calendar of the school. We are not going to allow a few people with ill motives and ill intentions to disrupt our sector and disrupt the education of this country,” he said.
The Ministry’s response comes against the backdrop of increasing incidents of unrest in several schools.
In recent weeks, a number of institutions have reported disturbances ranging from student strikes to dormitory fires, raising concerns about student welfare and school safety.
Some of the incidents have resulted in temporary disruptions to learning as authorities investigate the causes and assess damage to school property.
Among the schools affected were prominent institutions including Lenana School and Alliance High School, both of which experienced unrest that forced temporary closures and prompted students to be sent home.
Rather than closing schools, the Ministry has opted for targeted interventions designed to strengthen safety and improve student welfare.
One of the key measures announced is a nationwide audit of safety standards in schools. The inspections aim to assess emergency preparedness, evaluate boarding school facilities, and identify potential vulnerabilities that could contribute to unrest or safety risks.
The exercise is expected to cover schools across the country over a ten-day period.
Officials say the audits will focus on student welfare, security arrangements, infrastructure conditions, and adherence to safety regulations.
The Ministry believes that strengthening safety systems and improving oversight will help prevent future incidents while ensuring learning continues uninterrupted.
As part of the government’s response, the Ministry has significantly increased the number of Quality Assurance Officers tasked with monitoring schools.
The number of officers has risen from 600 to 1,000, allowing for more frequent inspections and closer engagement with school administrations.
The expanded team will conduct routine assessments and provide support to schools experiencing challenges. The officers are also expected to identify emerging issues before they develop into larger crises.
The Ministry has also directed schools to strengthen communication between students and administrators.
Guidance and counseling programs are also receiving renewed attention as part of the government’s strategy.
In another move, the Ministry has directed schools to suspend certain internal second-term examinations. Officials believe excessive academic pressure may be contributing to frustration among students in some institutions.
The temporary suspension is intended to ease anxiety while allowing schools to focus on addressing broader welfare concerns.
Bitok reiterated that the government’s priority is to protect learners, maintain order, and ensure students complete the term as planned.
