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{
    "id": 1012159,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1012159/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 298,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "As a Committee, we had recommended to the Ministry of Education to open schools in September in phases starting with Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4. This will serve as a pilot to show whether our country is ready to bring on board all the leaners. Recently we saw the President launching 620,000 desks that will be distributed to schools in the country. These desks are being made in various counties. This project of making desks is providing employment to our youth. I heard him saying some of these desks will go to 15 very needy schools. Last week, the CS told us that over 26,000 masks will be provided for use in schools. He also indicated to us that Ministry officials are going round the country to ascertain the level of preparedness. We, as a Committee, are recommending that in future we have blended learning. That is online learning, virtual and maybe physical learning. As it is now, online learning is going on in some schools, but children from the marginalized areas are not learning because of lack of electricity and internet connectivity. We urge the Ministry to ensure that there is network coverage and electricity supply in the entire country. Our second recommendation is that Parliament prepares the Budget and makes sure there is adequate funding to the Ministry of Education. As it is now, the Government requires an additional 12,000 teachers but the TSC is planning to employ 5,000 because they were given a budget of Kshs2.5 million only. Our third recommendation is that the Ministry of Water and Sanitation should ensure there are water tanks in schools. They should also ensure there is enough supply of water across the country before opening of schools. This is a multi-sectoral issue. We need to bring all stakeholders on board to ensure our children are safe when they go back to schools. Finally, we are calling upon the Ministry of Education to ensure that there are more day schools in the country because they are even cheaper to run. Our country should provide free tuition so that parents will have no excuse not to enroll their children. The only thing that parents are supposed to provide is food for their children and uniforms because the tuition will be free. Lastly, the Ministry of Education should increase capitation to our schools. I support the Ministry of Education in terms of phased reopening and that is also a recommendation from the Committee on Education. Therefore, I am not supporting or opposing that Statement. We will continue to engage as a Committee to ensure that the right protocols are followed to make sure that our children are safe. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker."
}