Kenya’s Schooling Year Closes

The Education Ministry announced on Tuesday morning (7 July) that primary and secondary school students in Kenya will not return to school until 2021. Subsequently, terminal exams for both levels – the Kenya Primary Certificate Exams, and the Kenya Secondary Certificate Exams – have also been cancelled. The decision is based on the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in the East African country: there were over 8,000 confirmed cases by June 6. On the same day President Kenyatta announced the partial lifting of a curfew on hotspots, and other restrictions were eased. The president said that despite places of worship being allowed to reopen, Sunday and Islamic weekend schools were to remain closed. Some countries across Africa have opted for a gradual reopening of schools, with more allowing final year students back to prepare for exams.