NEGST Classes start on January 14th

This letter was sent by Vice Chacellor, M Douglas Carew announcing a delayed start of classes because of the current situation.


NAIROBI EVANGELICAL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

Change of Date for Resumption of Classes


At a meeting of academic and administration department heads held this morning we unanimously decided that classes will not resume on Monday 7th January 2008 as originally scheduled. The first day of classes has therefore been changed to Monday 14th January, 2008. This decision was arrived at for the following reasons:

Political Crisis and Security. We recognize that the security situation is gradually stabilizing and improving, and believe that the past is behind us. However, the situation is still fluid to a certain measure and has not yet fully returned to normalcy.

Travel and Transportation. A number of community members are currently in areas of the country from where they either cannot travel safely to campus or do not have access to transport. The transportation difficulty affects students- both full time and part-time/extension, staff members, full and part-time teachers.

Psychological State. The events of the past week have left us in a national and individual state of shock, loss, and grief. This psychological environment is not conducive for learning to resume at this time.

Community Welfare. In the event that the situation deteriorates further, it is easier logistically and otherwise to provide the needed care and resources for a smaller percentage of people than would otherwise be the case with a full campus complement.

Please note that the administration and academic offices will be open throughout the week of January 7th and normal services, including Library and IT, will be provided. In addition the following will take place during the week beginning Monday 7th:

Chapel services will take place each day at 11 am in the multi-purpose building. We will focus on healing and reconciliation in each service during the week. The daily security briefings will be done during this time.

Counselling services will be provided for everyone in need of them. Our official counsellors, Rev. Kivanguli and Mrs. Carew, and faculty members will be available to counsel with.
Medical services will be provided as needed through the Clinic for displaced people currently accommodated on campus by various community members.

Humanitarian services. All members of the community are encouraged to participate as volunteers in providing humanitarian services off campus. Opportunities are available to give help at the Red Cross- Nairobi Chapel work with displaced people at Jamhuri Park. We are looking at how to do this as a community in a structured way as part of our Christian responsibility, beginning Monday afternoon. We strongly encourage you to volunteer to take part in this humanitarian effort. Please sign up by email or otherwise with Ms. Mbesa Kimanthi in the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

Please keep our nation, people and leaders in prayer.

M. Douglas Carew
Vice-Chancellor