Education CS Ogamba Drops New Order to Schools to Stop Picking Pupils Before 7am
Education CS Ogamba Drops New Order to Schools to Stop Picking Pupils Before 7am
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba directed school administrators across the country to strictly follow basic education guidelines regarding official operating hours.
The directive aimed to protect young learners from safety hazards linked to early morning commuting.
While addressing lawmakers in Parliament, Ogamba clarified that pupils in both public and private day schools should not be forced to report to their institutions before 7:15 a.m.
He noted that official class hours are set between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., after which co-curricular activities can run until 4:45 p.m.
The Cabinet Secretary warned that any institution compelling students to arrive at school earlier than the set timeframe operated outside Ministry policy.
The intervention followed intense public outcry and concerns raised on the floor of the National Assembly.
Lawmakers highlighted instances where transport buses picked up children as early as 4:30 a.m.
Members of Parliament pointed out that forcing young students onto dark streets exposed them to crime, fatigue, and road accidents before class activities even began.
The Education Secretary emphasized that school Boards of Management bore the legal responsibility for the physical safety and welfare of learners.
Regulation guidelines require these governing bodies to implement protective measures for pupils, both on school property and during transit.
Ogamba confirmed that the Ministry would work closely with administrative agencies to enforce the directive.
He stated that regional education directors would inspect school transport schedules to ensure compliance.
Institutions that continued to violate official reporting times faced administrative penalties and disciplinary action targeting headteachers.
CS Ogamba Updates Parliament on School Policies
This video provides coverage of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba delivering policy updates and answering questions regarding basic education governance in Parliament.