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{
    "id": 1050330,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1050330/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Were",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13183,
        "legal_name": "Petronila Were Lokorio",
        "slug": "petronila-were-lokorio"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion by the Mediation Committee on the Early Childhood Education Bill, which was a Senate Bill. A law on ECDE is long overdue. For a long time, especially after we have devolved, ECDE teachers have been groping in the darkness without proper guidance. The Basic Education Act seems mostly to focus on the Primary schools; Grade One to Eight, but left out the pre-primary, nursery and baby class. For a long time, early childhood education was mainly left to churches such that even the teacher who was teaching these lower classes in the schools was usually a Sunday school teacher. If the school was sponsored by the Anglican Church, it was the local Sunday school teacher who would be the nursery school teacher as well. This Bill has clarified even the classrooms that these children are supposed to learn from. Initially, most of these ECDE classes were under trees. It was as if it was by law that all ECDE classes be under trees. They did not have writing material. We have defined the learning materials and the outcomes that are expected from and ECDE teachers. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Bill has taken long. We have been informed that it has taken six years and has had to go through mediation for it to reach here. However, better late than never. I thank the Members of the Mediation Committee led by Senior Counsel Omogeni. They have told us that it was one of the smoothest sailing mediation sessions maybe because it was led by him. Maybe all Mediation Committees should be led by Senior Counsel so that we can achieve. It is also important to note that the Senior Counsel, who is the Chairperson, was also the one who won the case for the Senate when we had an issue with our relationship with the National Assembly. This was also a feather to his cap for steering this Committee properly and coming up with a law that is long overdue and will help our children. Earlier on, we were talking about mother tongue and its importance in the development of the child, especially in the formative classes. Maybe what we need to have included is the issue of mother tongue at this lower classes. It should be taught at that level when the child’s mind is receptive enough and open with less attitude. This Bill has also aligned itself with the TSC regulations because these ECDE teachers are going to be diploma teachers that are registered with the TSC. It has also aligned itself with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), so that the curriculum taught to our children in ECDE classes is regulated and recognized. A teacher does not just wake up and say: “Today we are going to do A, B, C up to Z and tomorrow we can start from Z to A and today we are going to do 1-10.” It has listed areas not just the academic learning, but focused more on skills development, especially life skills that these children will need to cope as they move to upper classes. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}