A past school games action.[Photo/Nation]
The government has dismissed “Term Two A” games for national secondary schools sports championships routinely held in the first week of June.
The responsible sports disciplines have now been disseminated to either “Term One” or “Term Two B” with officials contending that the original schedule was over-loaded.
Robert Masese the Ministry of Education official mentioned in a circular issued on behalf of the ministry’s Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang that the ministry had resolved to review the schedule for hosting national sports activities to a maximum of two weeks to allow students more time in class.
The circular dated December 11, 2017 stated that the ministry expressed that national championships should be held during the April and August school holidays.
This now officially brings to an end the old format of a three-round system that featured “Term One”, “Term Two A” and “Term 2 B” championships in favor of a two-round structure as was the case in the 1990s.
Handball and athletics,which were noemally organised in “Term 2 A”, will now take place in “Term One” in April together with basketball, hockey, 15s rugby and swimming.
Sevens rugby, netball, under-16 football, cross-country,decathlon and heptathlon have now moved to “Term Two” in August to be played together with football, volleyball and racquet games which have always been held in “Term Two B.”
According to this year’s calendar, national “Term One” competitions shall be held between April 6 and 14 in Embu, Eastern Region, while “Term Two” games will be in Eldoret, Rift Valley Region, from July 27 to August 5.
The East Africa Secondary School Games will be held in Gisenyi, Rwanda, from August 14 to 26.
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) secretary general David Ngugi mentioned that they have conformed to meet the new calendar’s requirements.
“As KSSSA, we do not have a problem with the new structure. In fact, we have adjusted very well and are only waiting for the activities to start with the election of new schools sports officials countrywide this weekend,” Ngugi said