Day school learners should not be expected to be at school before 7:15 a.m., Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has told the National Assembly, clarifying the limits schools must observe when setting reporting times.
Ogamba said the requirement applies to both public and private day institutions and is provided for under the Basic Education Regulations, 2015. He explained that the regulation sets a clear difference between the earliest time a learner can be required to arrive at school and the time classroom teaching should begin.
His clarification came during an appearance before the National Assembly on Wednesday, August 19, where he addressed the prescribed hours for basic education institutions.
“Regulation 84, subsection 2 of the Basic Education Regulations 2015 stipulates that no day institution of basic education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7:15 a.m.,” Ogamba said.
The CS said the reporting time should not be interpreted as the beginning of the school day for classroom learning, noting that teaching is expected to start later.
“The earliest permissible reporting time is 7:15 a.m., while the prescribed class hours commence from 8 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.”
According to the regulations, schools are expected to conduct classroom instruction between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Once the classroom timetable ends, institutions can engage learners in co-curricular activities, which are scheduled to run until 4:45 p.m.
“Regulation 84 of the Basic Education Regulations 2015 prescribed the official operating hours for both public and private institutions,” the CS said.
“The official operating hours for all public and private institutions shall be from Monday to Friday as follows: (a) from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for class hours, and 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. for co-curricular activities.
The clarification provides guidance on the amount of time day scholars should spend at school, particularly as concerns have been raised over learners being expected to arrive very early and leave late.
Beyond the prescribed hours, schools are also required to ensure that learners remain safe while participating in school programmes and activities.
Ogamba cited Regulation 81 of the Basic Education Regulations, which assigns responsibility for safety, security and hygiene in basic education institutions to the Board of Management.
Under Regulation 82, Boards of Management are required to establish reasonable measures to keep learners safe while they are in school and when they are outside the institution while travelling for school-related activities.
The safety responsibility therefore covers learners both within school premises and during movements linked to activities organised by their institutions.
Schools Required to Maintain Safe Environments
Ogamba also referred to the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2008, which provides further guidance on how schools should protect learners.
The manual addresses different areas of school safety, including the condition of school grounds, physical security, infrastructure and facilities, health and hygiene, teaching and learning environments and child protection.
It also contains guidelines covering transportation and road safety, disaster preparedness and response, relations between schools and communities, as well as monitoring and evaluation of safety standards.
These measures are intended to ensure that school programmes operate within the required hours while learners are provided with a safe environment.
The safety manual also provides measures aimed at protecting children from abuse and other dangers.
It outlines ways of identifying signs of abuse among learners and requires teachers, parents, communities and other relevant people to report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.
The guidelines also provide measures for dealing with sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in schools.
Schools are expected to establish safety structures that can identify risks, monitor the conditions within the institution, bring together relevant stakeholders and ensure action is taken where safety problems are identified.
Institutions are also expected to regularly assess child protection concerns in and around their premises.
They should maintain records of safety incidents and document measures taken to deal with identified concerns.
The Basic Education Regulations, 2015, further provide for guidance and counselling services for learners.
The services are intended to promote learner welfare, help schools identify problems at an early stage and ensure learners facing abuse, violence, insecurity or other difficulties receive appropriate support and referrals.
The safety guidelines recognise that protecting learners cannot be left to schools alone.
Schools are expected to work together with parents and guardians, local communities, government agencies, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders when responding to safety concerns.
The cooperation is particularly important when dealing with the movement of learners between their homes and schools.
The guidelines therefore extend learner protection beyond the classroom and school compound, requiring schools and other stakeholders to pay attention to children's safety during school-related travel and activities.