Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has banned teaching outside the prescribed hours as provided for in the Basic Education Regulations 2015.

In a circular, he says the move seeks to ensure learners get ample time to rest, avoid mental stress and have preps as provided by the law without distraction by teaching.

It remains to be seen whether the directive shall be complied with in a country where learning outside the prescribed hours has become the norm with the ultimate aim of boosting school performance in national examinations.

According to the regulations, the official operating hours for all day public or private institutions is Monday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm with 3.30pm to 4.45pm set aside for co-curriculum activities.

“No day institution of basic education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7.15am,” the regulations state.

The regulations further provides that all institutions with boarding facilities shall operate 24/7 hour with class hours set for Monday to Friday from 8am to 3.30pm, co-curriculum activities from 3.30pm to 4.45pm while self-directed activities shall be conducted from 5pm to 7.30pm.

Preps shall be held from 7.30pm to 9.30pm Monday to Friday with bedtime set for 9.30pm to 6am.

Routine activities will be supervised from 6am to 8am.

As per the guidelines, no boarding institution shall send away an unaccompanied learner later than 9am with the latest reporting time for learners to a boarding institution set for 5pm.