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{
    "id": 1076675,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1076675/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 420,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Busia CWR, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Florence Mutua",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 539,
        "legal_name": "Florence Mwikali Mutua",
        "slug": "florence-mwikali-mutua"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the various areas of spending which have been given priority in the budget include resources to support free primary and secondary education, school infrastructural improvement, funding of the university education, management of teacher resources, as well as expansion of the various TVET institutions in the country. As part of our oversight role in the budget, allow me to point out some key issues which the Committee observed in the proposed budget for the education sector and which the Committee tried to address in its review of the Budget Estimates. One, my Committee noted that the school feeding program aimed at retaining learners in primary schools is disadvantaged in areas not being administered in an effective manner. One of the reason is the inadequacies in the criteria used to identify which areas to benefit. We have requested the Ministry to quickly review the policy to ensure that areas are mapped again so that we can have even the slum areas reached by this program. Further, we have also supported LOCONEC, which is going to expand this program in terms of bringing development partners on board to ensure this program reaches many students who need the school feeding program. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Committee also noted that the Ministry has been capturing learner's details through the Information Management System (IMS) where we capture the data of the learners. This is going to ensure that any capitation that goes to schools rules out any ghost students so that we the capitation reaches the right beneficiaries. On the expansion of TVET infrastructure, the Committee also observed that the first phase of the 30 technical training institutes (TTIs) is well on course. However, the money that is being released is not enough. We kindly requested the National Treasury to ensure that these TVETs are completed so that areas that have the TTIs benefit from them. The Committee also noted that most of the infrastructure projects in public universities are not well funded and they have really taken long to be completed. We kindly requested the National Treasury, through the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations, to ensure that these TTIs are fully supported for them to be completed for use. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on university education, the Committee observed that most of the public universities are not well funded and are struggling to stay operational. The problem is compounded by the criteria used to allocate resources to them. A thorough review of the funding criteria for universities quickly needs to be done, which the Committee is undertaking currently, so that they get adequate funding. We have also requested for the support of the Universities Funding Board, which is a body legally mandated to review how public universities are funded. We have requested for support in the current budget. As a country, we need to have a serious conversation on whether we require the many universities in view of the constrained resources. This is a discourse which needs to be opened up for Members to discuss. With the current roll out of the Competency Based Curriculum, there is need to ensure that the many examination assessments which will be required will be in a safe custody. That is why the Committee is supporting the completion of the Mitihani House, as the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations has said, because Mitihani House has stalled for the last 35 years. My Committee is very committed to having this house completed because in the new CBC, many assessments will be done and we need to have them done locally. Currently, we are having exams printed abroad and it is very expensive. It would be prudent to complete this construction, so that the security of examinations and exam materials are guaranteed as the country implements the new CBC. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, still on the issue of the implementation of the new curriculum, the Committee noted that the newly established State Department for Implementation 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."
}