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{
    "id": 1022947,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1022947/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 186,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We should not just be saying we do not know when we are going to reopen schools because of physical social distancing yet we have the whole of this period to prepare for these things. The Ministry can actually do it. How long does it take to construct a row of eight classrooms? Maybe we should see this COVID-19 as a blessing in disguise to address the physical infrastructure needs of our public schools, both primary and secondary, especially in light of the 100 per cent transition policy. Even you Members, through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) money, could also partner with the Ministry. I am sure you are best placed to know the condition of the schools in your constituencies. The functionaries at the Ministry of Education should have a one-day sitting in this Chamber with the Committee and as many of you as are able to come to discuss this issue. This is something for which we cannot just bury our heads in the sand. The state of infrastructure is one of the reasons some poor parents in the villages withdraw their children from public schools and take them to all manner of funny things called academies. Academies in the village? They are just small shops and funny places and they call them academies. If this is done, it may be the reason we would be able to attract and retain more of the teachers who leave to those so-called academies and restore our public education system back to where it was some years back. I am sure Dr. Nyikal would confirm. Many of us went through public schools. We should actually be ashamed to see the mushrooming of private schools in our constituencies when we know that indeed we ought to have between 95 and 97 per cent of all children going to public schools. Those who want to take theirs to some premier private institution should do so. But, surely, academies in villages? We need to address this issue. I am sure Hon. Florence Mutua is up to the task. Even as you address this question, maybe you could holistically tell the Ministry to give you an update of where they are in preparation for reopening of schools, because schools must reopen anyway. We cannot say that we are going to wait until we flatten the curve. When is that going to be? We continue to sit here. We have made arrangements to sit. We are making others to make our virtual sittings even much better. It is a shame that our children are at home. Surely, Ministry of Education officials must have some plan of how to deal with this situation should the curve not flatten. We cannot just keep children eternally at home. Even if you tell those who are in class one and ECDE to repeat, I do not know what you will tell those who are being weaned from their mothers in preparation for ECDE. Will you tell them to continue being weaned? We may be sitting on a bigger problem. But I am sure Hon. Florence Mutua and her Committee are up to the task. Hon. Florence, would you want to comment?"
}