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"id": 1057529,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1057529/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Jacqueline Oduol",
"speaker": {
"id": 13514,
"legal_name": "Jacquiline Adhiambo Oduol",
"slug": "jacqueline-adhiambo-oduol"
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"content": "whose welfare will also be appropriately considered through their employment and remuneration, we are investing in the right direction. I support this mediated version of the Bill because it is clear that currently, there is an effort by county governments to put up classrooms and structures. Where I come from in Alego-Usonga in Siaya County, I had an opportunity to visit some of those schools, especially during the period when COVID-19 was at its peak. It was clear that, going not only by the number of children that were all put in one room, we need to have proper planning and get adequate funding. We need to think of the infrastructure. It was in one of those sessions where I also got to see the young children demonstrate their capacity, through song and dance, to declare very clearly that we need to beat COVID-19 and the way to do it is to wear masks, wash our hands, keep social distance and ensure that we are aware that there is a challenge. I support this mediated version of the Bill because there will be an opportunity for children to learn in effective ways such as by playing and through different levels of cognitive development. We will not put all children in the same space. We will also get the number of teachers that can effectively address this. Other Members have also noted that in any organized system, we need to have proper structures. In the mediated Bill, we are not only seeing the need but have also agreed to register all teachers so that there is a sense of standardization and remuneration. We will also have a proper structure with a board of management which can address the key issue of public health. This is extremely important because, as I indicated, there is a school in Alego-Usonga Constituency called Pap Kakan Primary School whereby, the room where children in early childhood education learn in is next to a fence where there is sewage. At times, it is really unfortunate and intolerable when we find that those young children, who by all means, in terms of their learning, will mostly be singing, dancing or doing some other activity collectively, are forced, in a way, through lack of clear management structures that can address the issue, to still endure those conditions in their learning. I support the Bill because in terms of the proposals in this mediated version, we will have an end to situations where we do not have someone that we can hold to account. We will now have very clear board of management. We will now be in a position to ring-fence resources. We will have teachers who, in terms of their appointment and remuneration, will be equal to teachers in other areas and who are ready and prepared for this. Most importantly, we will demonstrate that the best way to invest as a country is to invest in our children and make sure that in their early years, we are giving them the right to education. I end by indicating that I had a chance to visit Dubai on the issue of equal opportunity and inclusion and, in particular, dealing with persons with disabilities. As we look at this mediated version of the Bill, we must ensure that we also look at children with disabilities. It is at the early stages when we want to ensure that we build the esteem of those children and ensure that they know that having disabilities is not in any way an indication that they do not have abilities in the fundamental areas. I agree and emphasize that where we might need to be a little clearer is to have determination. As they say in their policy in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), they do not talk about persons or children with disabilities, but they talk about people with determination. Persons or children with disabilities go through very many challenges. It is their determination that enables to overcome those challenges. With this Bill, we are saying that we will all be persons of determination. As we look at early childhood education centres, we will do everything that we can to ensure that our children with disabilities are given an equal opportunity to lay a foundation and contribute to the country. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}