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Students can now have a sigh of relief after Kenya Railways announced the extension of the usage of Madaraka express tickets.
In a notice, the corporation said the tickets which were to be used by the students travelling back to schools beginning today (April 29) until May 3, will now be open for use from May 6-10.
The tickets, it stated, will exclusively apply to students and their guardians.
“Please note that this extension applies to students and their accompanying guardians,” reads the notice.
This ticket validity, Kenya Railways said, is a result of the postponement of school reopening dates by the Ministry of Education.
The new dates for the reopening of schools were announced in a statement issued Sunday night by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
Machogu noted that they have received data that some schools have been adversely affected by the ongoing floods.
He said sending students and staff to the affected schools would be putting their lives at risk, hence the decision to postpone the reopening.
“The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools are so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety of all affected school communities.
“Based on this assessment, the Ministry of Education has resolved to postpone the reopening of all primary and secondary schools by one week, to Monday, May 6, 2024,” Machogu said.
Schools were scheduled to reopen on April 29 (today).
The CS said his Ministry will work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains.
He added that they will also provide regular updates on all developments relating to the education sector.
On Sunday, the National Parents Association proposed a change in opening dates for schools in affected areas.
This came as the Meteorological department warned of heavier rains in the coming days with over 90 people reported dead so far and scores of others injured or missing.
According to the association Secretary General Eskimos Kobia, tens of schools across the country had been affected by the rains and flooding.
Kobia called on the government to audit the number of schools affected by the rains to change the opening dates for the safety of the students and teachers.
“We are keenly monitoring the ongoing rains and working with the government so that the lives of the students are safe as the schools reopen for the second term,” he said.
by FELIX KIPKEMOI