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{
    "id": 1097965,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1097965/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "villages – let us call them vocational training centres – to spur the growth of vocational training centres in this country. I have seen two issues. As a country, we need to invest in a more---. Someone predicted that in the last decade, in this decade and the coming decade, this country will be more on infrastructure and many other things that we need to build. Therefore, we need to agree that we need welders, masons, borehole drillers and firefighters. Mr. Speaker, Sir, these people are very important people in the growth of the economy. As a country, we must invest in them. I want to thank the Committee on Education for coming up with this Bill. This is what we mean by bottom-up approach. We must have people who are willing to be trained as welders, electricians, borehole drillers, firefighters and masons. In the economy, that we want to build we want to start with where the people are. I agree that there should be guiding principles that the Bill has tried to establish. When you look at Clause 4, it is about policy examination standards and curriculum accreditation. There is what we call Kenya Trainers Technical College where they train these trainers that are being used to train, especially as instructors. I think KTTC should be the accrediting body that will give the license to many trainers. The problem we are facing is that - I did ask for a Statement from the Committee on Education - we do not have proper guidelines on how these people are being trained and accredited. Even as we hire trainers, most of counties are hiring them on contractual basis. They are not hiring them on permanent and pensionable terms. We should look at the terms of service so that the trainers are hired on permanent and pensionable terms. I know that counties are hiring them on contractual obligations since most counties are also facing the issue of wage bill. Another aspect is on ensuring examination standards. I think it is important to have uniform examination standards across the country especially in the county vocational centres and KTTC. We also have the Technical Vocational Authority (TVETA) that has been established under the Act of 2013. Another aspect I noticed about the Bill is that ability of transferring credit. For example, if you are in Cheptarit Youth Polytechnic near my neighbourhood and you want to relocate to Kaplamai Youth Polytechnic which is somewhere in Emgwen Sub-County, it is easier to do credit transfer just the way we do it in university when you want to transfer from faculty to another or from one university to another. I think it is an acceptable practice worldwide. Obligations of the county government have been outlined. If this Bill passes into law, I hope that county governments should take even 2 percent because this is a very critical area. We want to build human resource in order to develop our country in terms of infrastructure and buildings. Therefore, when Clause 5 talks about providing the funds necessary for development, in my opinion - I hope county assemblies are watching - they should ensure that we do not ring fence the Kshs2 billion meant for youth polytechnics, it is very important. Another aspect is that I must applaud the Bill is ensuring that there is space for the people with special needs both the trainees and the trainers. I think it is very important to"
}