News & Analysis: Education
COVID-19 Africa Watch talks to Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, CEO of 54gene, about genomics research and precision medicine in Africa, as well as his company’s response to COVID-19.
“The Ministry of Education announced that boarding students in some high school, vocational schools and Teachers Training Colleges will be returning to their schools starting next week.”
“Mombasa county commissioner Kitiyo confirmed four teachers at the Star Of The Sea and 11 at Tononoka Secondary tested positive for COVID-19. The two institutions will remain closed for 14 days during which the health officials will embark on fumigation of classrooms.”
“The lesson that we are going to be left with by this pandemic is how we create resilience within systems: how well have we prepared and how do we prepare ourselves for similar episodes of disruption in the future.”
“Amref Health Africa chief executive Dr. Githinji Gitahi said the fight against the pandemic will only be won once Kenyans fully embrace the preventive measures from home. Dr. Gitahi noted that the risk of infection will remain for as long as there is no vaccine.”
“School leaders spent the first day of school making announcements to students about essential hygiene and how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There was generally a high turnout of students in most schools, despite rumors of classes being canceled”
“We’ve heard the consistent refrain that the education sector needs to become more resilient to this and future crises, but we’ve heard much less about what that means in practice. Inevitably, it will require identifying tradeoffs and strategizing about how to deal with them in ways that support education outcomes, especially for students and families most likely to be affected.”
“Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Tuesday said schools would reopen on Monday, October 12. Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr. argued the decision was rushed as funds to ensure observation of COVID-19 protocols and other requirements was yet to be disbursed”
“Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has urged local authorities to prepare for a coronavirus second wave as the new academic year starts.”
“The federal government has ordered the reopening of all schools in Nigeria. The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. He advised all institutions to obey and adhere to the guidelines for the reopening of schools, earlier announced by the presidential task force.”
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