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{
    "id": 1166327,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1166327/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 125,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for giving me this chance to contribute to this Bill. First of all, I take this opportunity to thank the sponsors, Sen. (Dr.) Gertrude Musuruve, and Sen. (Prof.) Kamar for sponsoring such a critical Bill. This Bill has been in my Committee for some time. I am part of the people who are very excited today that it has come to the Floor of the House. It is my hope that this Bill will transit to the next level and be assented to before the end of this period of the Senate. Madam Deputy Speaker, education is a fundamental right that is enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Article 43(1) (f) that- “Every person has a right to education” Article 53 (1) (b) states that- “every child has the right to free and compulsory basic education is a right of every child in Kenya” However, for many years, children with disabilities have really suffered because of lack of a legal framework to speak to their issues. Madam Deputy Speaker, we have had several challenges are in the villages. Every Senator will be given a chance to give various scenarios of how children with special needs have really suffered because they are unable to access education as stated in the Bill of Rights or in the Constitution. When they access it, there is no infrastructure for the learners and the teachers and so there is no provision for quality education. This is because access is one aspect and quality is another. Madam Deputy Speaker, this Bill has really spoken to very many issues. I hope that upon implementation, these shall go a long way to ensure that the special needs child is considered. Madam Deputy Speaker, Part 1 of this Bill speaks to many issues in terms for example the preliminary issues of definitions of terms. When it comes to Part 2, on the objects, this one even recognises the importance of parents and family when it comes to special needs education. Of late, the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) has brought on board parents. I hope more than ever before, these special needs parents and families shall be brought on board to ensure that learning takes place when it comes to these particular children. Madam Deputy Speaker, this Bill has played a very critical role in terms of setting out the national and county roles. Madam Deputy Speaker, as usual, the national roles would be setting out the strategies, the plans, the curriculum, and the policy to be followed up to ensure that special needs education is delivered in the best way possible. Madam Deputy Speaker, I remember, sometimes back on a visit to some schools in Uasin Gishu County, we managed to visit one special school just to look at the delivery of CBC. We found out that there was a disconnect between what the teacher was actually presenting and what the learners were taking in. This immediately showed us that there is 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."
}