Crash training for teachers to be rolled out next week

Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • The training will also involve heads, deputies and senior teachers.
  • With schools expected to open next month, it will be squeezed into two weeks.
  • Five modules that carry messages targeted at specific audiences will be used.

Teachers will undergo a crash training on handling Covid-19 from next week when they report to school after six months, the Ministry of Education has said. 

Top ministry officials will be briefed and the training cascaded to counties, with learners being trained in the first week of reopening.

The training was earlier intended to be spread over two months, when the opening date was set for January.

With schools expected to open next month, it will be squeezed into two weeks.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha will chair a National Steering Committee whose membership will comprise Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia, Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache, Education Ministry directors, Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Nancy Macharia and heads of other semi-autonomous government agencies.

The team will play an oversight role in the training as well as identify priority areas and potential risks.

It will also monitor timelines, the quality of training and advise on changes that may develop along the way.

Master trainers

According to documents seen by the Nation, activities have been lined up for master trainers at the national level, trainer of trainers at regional/county levels, sub-county education officials, curriculum support officers, deputy county commissioners and headteachers.

Four other staff (deputy, senior teacher, health club teacher and one member of non-teaching staff), the board of management and the parents’ association representatives will be trained first.

 Before pupils and students troop back to class, there will be institutional training and preparations targeting other teachers, subordinate staff and special needs education learner support assistants.

The training will also involve heads, deputies and senior teachers. Five modules that carry messages targeted at specific audiences will be used.

The ministry also plans to roll out a massive communication strategy to ensure success of the training.