Schools are set to break for the August holiday this week, which will last for three weeks. Students will return to classes in the last week of August for the third and final term of the year. They will be in school for nine weeks before closing for the long December holidays after Mashujaa Day, allowing candidates to sit for the Kenya Primary School Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Inter-Mediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, which begin in late October.
Yesterday, numerous students were seen at bus terminals across the country, trying to catch transport as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) urged Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) to exercise caution on the roads.
Samuel Musumba, the agency’s Head of Safety Strategies, advised PSVs and school transport operators transporting students to various destinations to be particularly vigilant.
“PSV and school transport operators are encouraged to exercise caution as schools close for the August holiday,” he stated. Musumba added that the authority, in collaboration with various government agencies, including the National Police Service (NPS), will enhance road surveillance to ensure the safety of children traveling home.
“Police will heighten surveillance to ensure safety during this season,” he said
“Learning institutions’ school transport vehicles will undergo road safety compliance checks in various parts of the country,” tweeted NTSA on their twitter handle.
Musumba further indicated that the PSV drivers should be mindful of the rains which may hinder transport in various parts of the country as well as possibly increase traffic.
NTSA urged all motorists to be cautious and mindful of other road users as children close for their holidays.
“We urge all motorists to be cautious and be mindful of other road users as children close the schools,”
The road safety manager emphasised that the school administrators should inspect and ensure that the vehicles are in good condition before transporting the learners.
“We would like the vehicles carrying these children to be in the best condition. We understood that some of these vehicles are yet to undergo inspection,” Musumba noted.
The government agency also issued a warning to school vehicles against overloading. Additionally, it stressed that all school vehicles must be equipped with functional seatbelts, have valid vehicle insurance, possess a road service license, and carry an inspection certificate. The driver must hold the appropriate DL class endorsement and a valid PSV badge.
This week’s school closure marks the end of a busy term that has seen disruptions to the academic calendar, primarily due to flooding that damaged infrastructure in thousands of schools nationwide, as well as the recent Gen Z protests that have affected the country.
Significant challenges have emerged in the education sector following the floods, as highlighted by a survey conducted by the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) in June.
The survey’s findings painted a concerning picture of the post-flood educational landscape, revealing that more than 62 primary schools were submerged, putting 15,000 students at risk of missing school. Additionally, 34 cholera cases were reported along the Tana River, and over 20,000 toilets were damaged by the floods.
The surveyed schools experienced a nine percent decrease in overall student enrollment, with female students and those with special needs being disproportionately affected. There was widespread infrastructure damage, leaving many schools with non-functional facilities, and some buildings remained unsafe but were still occupied due to a lack of alternatives.
