Annus horribilis for Kenyan School Children?

I wonder at the reasoning behind the decision by the Ministry of Education to schedule an annual event for headteachers to coincide with the opening of schools.

Not impressed

This is in a context where children in public schools routinely lose about 53% of their learning time from teacher absenteeism, both sanctioned and unsanctioned. In addition, to these 'normal' time leakages, school children in our public schools lost at least 24 teaching days this year from the teachers strike that had stopped all learning earlier this year.

This infographic on teacher absenteeism puts the situation in perspective. Makes me want to ask:
"Ministry of Education, what were you thinking?"