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{
    "id": 1050349,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1050349/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "the degree. I am happy that this teacher management was left to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to ensure that there is standardization of the teachers right across the country and at all levels of education institutions. I am sure that since this function was left to the TSC, it will standardize the type of qualification that is applicable to ECDE centers. In some marginalized areas where there are shortages of teachers, they will be able to carry out affirmative action, to ensure that no region is left behind without teachers. Madam Deputy Speaker, there were issues surrounding Clause 2 on the management right at the counties, where one House was imagining that there should be a different board. I agree that we should have one board, but then have consultation with the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member, who will be the link person to the ECDE section. This is because in the county we have a committee that is charged with ensuring that ECDE centers are well managed and run in line with education matters. Under Clause 44, in terms of management and looking at both private and public ECDE centers, I am happy also that these various centers are let to be run. The various entities will be allowed to run independently, in the sense that private institutions play a critical role when it comes to 100 per cent transition. Madam Deputy Speaker, I am sure that the Government will not be able to provide all the facilities, to ensure that all children are brought on board. When we have private ECDE centres, this will ensure that no child is left behind. One very critical role that the private sector plays is to ensure that they put up ECDE centres. In most cases, you will realize that because these are investment enterprises, they are normally the best ECDE centres. It is, therefore, important that they are allowed to run those institutions. Madam Deputy Speaker, I love the fact that this Bill will ensure that the curriculum used in all these ECDE centres comes from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). This is so that we ensure standardization and then we know that whether a child goes to private or public schools, all of them will go through a similar curriculum. Come the future, they will all be at the same level. This Bill is coming at a time when my Committee has met and interrogated up to 40 counties on ECDE learning centres. We were able to unearth very many issues right across those counties. There were issues of registration challenges and management. Wash materials is a major challenge. We did realize that even the design of the classrooms is not in line with the expectations as per the Ministry of Education. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is supposed to be designed to be applicable to very young children, like even based on colours, size of tables, play materials and the orientation of that particular classroom. We found that they were missing. However, this Bill ensures that there is now a legal framework that can be followed in terms of ensuring that there are standardised ECDE centres. In one or two weeks, in our final conference, I am sure we shall invite you, Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri and Sen. (Dr.) Langat, having been the champions of this Bill in the recent past. We are bringing it to a close; what we found out at the course of interrogating ECDE centres right across the country. I hope you will avail yourselves because you will have an input. This is so that we standardize what is going on in all ECDE centres. 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."
}