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{
    "id": 686497,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/686497/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 243,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Okoth",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12482,
        "legal_name": "Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth",
        "slug": "kenneth-odhiambo-okoth"
    },
    "content": "structured, focused and segmented so that our universities focus on degrees and post-graduate degrees; and that we support technical colleges that will provide certificates and diplomas. In the German and Swiss models, the technical, vocational, educational and training sector is very clear. Young people can prepare and start with a diploma at that lower level and then convert to Bachelors degree later and it is recognised. I do not think we should all be rushing in that direction recently by converting all our colleges into universities. It is not necessary. One important thing that we need to think about is the example of Korea. We have an opportunity under Vision 2030 and the Konza City model to achieve what Korea achieved. Korea, 41 years ago, established the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). What Korea did in the KAIST model was to exempt all brilliant young students who scored high marks in their exams from military service if they were admitted to that top university which focused on engineering and applied sciences. It was not just pure research, but applied research which has led to Korea being a leading technology country today. I think the co- operation between the Government of Korea and the Government of Kenya in projects like Konza City will go a long way. I urge Members of this House, the Vision 2030 Secretariat and the Departmental Committee on Education, Research and Technology and the Budget and Appropriations Committee to collaborate and make sure that the dream of Konza is funded. The other aspect that made the KAIST model successful in Korea was exemption of professors who were hired there to work. They were paid better and in different terms compared to other professors and, hence, they attracted Korean talent that had existed anywhere around the globe. When they came back to work in Korea, they were paid very high salaries compared to professors in other universities. Korea has military service and for those young people who were going into applied sciences and technology courses, they were excused and allowed to work for two years without paying taxes, to skip the military service and get their education because that too was contributing to their national prosperity. It is high time we looked at this Bill carefully and made sure it is promoting our national values. Our universities must not only promote our national values of cohesion, but they must give us value for money in terms of national goals and make sure they are producing the skills set and qualifications that will help us industrialise as a nation."
}