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{
    "id": 1092442,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1092442/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tinderet, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12849,
        "legal_name": "Julius Kipbiwot Melly",
        "slug": "julius-kipbiwot-melly"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I also rise to support the request for a Statement, which members have contributed to. One of the issues I want to put across is that of financing and making sure that 100 per cent transition is a success. With regard to the 100 per cent transition, as an educationist, we say it is better to have a child in school than outside the school. However, in this situation you realise that, currently, the population of Form One students in schools is about one million. It is a normal trend that the student population in Form One increases by between eight and 10 per cent every year. It means, therefore, that even if we build enough classrooms this year, next year, we will still need eight or 10 per cent more new classrooms. The Ministry is supposed to ensure that we have an eight per cent increase in the number of teachers in schools, so that we also have enough teaching staff. Hon. Keter has just put it very clearly that if you come to our county, top schools like Kapsabet Boys High School, Kapsabet Girls High School, Meteitei High School, Samoei Boys Secondary School and others have three extra classrooms this year. Last year, they had six Form One classes. This year, they have nine and the number of teachers is still constant. The dining halls and libraries have been converted into classrooms. It means that the teaching and learning process is not effective. The Ministry needs to move fast and ensure that one, the funds are actually disbursed to those schools on time. Secondly, they should ensure that we have the Secondary Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) programme. There was a SEQIP programme which was supposed to be implemented in 30 counties and 110 constituencies of low income, but that programme has stalled in the Ministry. It would have ensured that about 2,000 classrooms are built by the World Bank. About 500 laboratories could have also been constructed. That could have eased this problem. On top of that, we have a very pertinent issue of the NG-CDF. The NG-CDF plays a critical role. The delay in disbursement of the NG-CDF means that there will be a delay in the construction of classrooms. That would mean that a number of students will study under trees, yet this is a very cold season. A number of them will contract pneumonia. This is also a bad time since it is a new normal. We will not be able to have enough space. That is why we are talking about space in schools as a very urgent thing. I would like hon. Members to know that the issue that has been brought before us is very urgent. It is an emergency and we need to take it up with speed. I want the Ministry and the Departmental Committee on Education and Research to take it up with the necessary urgency that it deserves. Lastly, I also want to point out that as much as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been employing almost 5,000 teachers every year, that is actually a paltry number because it 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."
}