Kenya orders last-minute school closures before election

Kenya’s education minister has announced the abrupt closure of all schools starting on Tuesday, ahead of the country’s general elections next week.

Schools were initially scheduled to go for half-term break this Friday, but Prof George Magoha has ordered the closure a week early and classes to begin again on 11 August.

The announcement caught many schools and parents by surprise, as some learners were already sitting mid-term exams.

Many public schools are used as polling stations during elections in Kenya.

The current educational calendar has been hugely affected by the pandemic that led to schools closing for more than a year.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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