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The government has banned sleeping sessions for pre-primary learners in schools, once learning resumes.

Ministry of Education’s safety guidelines released yesterday indicate that there will be no sleeping and provision of mattresses for early childhood learners.

“Children will be released to go home immediately after completing the day’s lessons.

Children should be dropped off and picked by known adults,” the Ministry directed.

Other safety measures outlined for the pre-primary school provide that children will be split into smaller groups of not more than four during playtime and breaks, where applicable.

Free movement

Children should be accompanied by a teacher or caregiver when going to the toilet and back and should not interact with strangers while at school.

Teachers will ensure adequate spaces between group-work stations to allow free movement of the learners and their tutors.

Children will be allowed to socialise with as few children as possible and interaction should be limited to the same group throughout when in school.

The Ministry has also directed that children be provided with play materials at school, which will be cleaned or sanitised daily. Toys from home will not be allowed.

Children will take snacks inside the classroom where possible.

The schools’ management must ensure that pre-primary learners have separate toilets.

“Management of Pre-primary will also be guided by the National Pre-Primary Education Policy Standard Guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education,” the Ministry’s guidelines indicate.

Children will be required to maintain a distance of at least 1 meter within their groups of 3-4 in the classrooms, with teachers expected to implement targeted health education that integrate disease prevention and control during daily activities.