Universities in Mombasa plan phased re-opening

Universities and tertiary institutions in Mombasa are planning a phased re-opening after the Ministry of Education's go-ahead for them to resume after being closed for six months.

The government has relaxed most Covid-19 measures with the declining number of reported positive cases.

Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) announced the anticipated resumption of studies in order to complete the second semester in the 2019/2020 academic year.

Speaking to the Nation on the phone, Vice-Chancellor Prof Laila Abubakar said the university was due to re-open this week for about 1,500 final year students.

"They are coming back to do examinations. Before the institution was closed, the students were just about to do their examinations,” she said.

The university has further directed that the postgraduate, degree, diploma and certificate students resume in a schedule according to their schools, where the university is expected to offer optional accommodation at a cost.

"To aid in containing the spread of Covid-19, accommodation is available at the TUM hostels at a cost of Sh600 for the week in session," said Prof Abubakar.

Prof Abubakar said the 300-bed Mombasa County Covid-19 isolation centre, which the institution hosted, has been closed down and is undergoing fumigation.

“There are no patients. All the beds have been removed on the third and fourth floors. The other rooms which were used for administrative purposes are being fumigated for use,” she said.

Examinations

The final year students will be required to sit their examinations within a week each this month and afterwards, continuing students will be called back as first year students continue with online studies until January.

At the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, the largest polytechnic in the Coast region, the institution has set up measures that will ensure no spread of Covid-19.

Among the measures is for students' temperatures to be taken by a non-contact thermometer, and sanitisers and designated areas for washing hands will be provided.

Deputy Principal in charge of Administration Show Kalama said about 316 students who initially were supposed to sit their exams in March this year were expected back from Monday.

Mr Kalama said that among other things, the institution has designated handwashing stations, automatic sanitisers and a non-contact thermometer at the gate as Covid-19 containment measures.

He said arrangement in classes has been changed to observe social distancing measures while a three-bedroom unit has been set aside in the premises for emergency cases.

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