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{
    "id": 1224167,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1224167/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 316,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. First, before I speak on this important Bill, I would like to join those who have congratulated our Leaders of the Minority; Sen. Olekina and Sen. Sifuna. We look forward to working with them. I equally thank Sen. Dullo for the time she was our Leader and for the leadership she gave to us. I recognize that. As we move to this Bill, I commend Sen. M. Kajwang’ and the Committee on Education for bringing this matter before this House. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education may be the most important education we need to focus on in this country. That is where we need to put our money if we really want to change this country. Over the years, we have stigmatized TVET education. Many people believed it was those who were stupid or did not get good marks who ended up in TVET institutions. You will agree with me that every household does not require anybody who went to the Alliance or other big schools but every household requires the services of somebody who has gone to a TVET institution. With the kind of population, we have now the Government’s number one headache is how to get enough of us employed and how to grow this economy. There are no two ways about this. The only way we can grow this economy is through industry, through industry, through industry. We cannot do that because we do not have enough manpower that is properly qualified to take on industry. That is why we give contracts to the Chinese and allow their labourers to come do our work. I urge that this Senate be known as the House that brought the point home that TVET education is where to put the money. I have briefly read the current existing laws and I request this Committee to look at them. I suggest that Sen. M. Kajwang’ looks at the way in which we can have intergovernmental cooperation because the national Government has the role of setting standards in education whether in TVET or others. I was the Chair of Sigalagala National Polytechnic. While I was there, I really appreciated the value of having people with skills. We did interviews to get trainers. Among the people who came for jobs were those with first-class honours from places such as the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Most of the people who got jobs after interviewing were those who began as artisans, did diplomas and went on to do higher diplomas or degrees. Those are the ones who got the jobs. We asked them what the bulb was made of and even asked them to connect the joint practically. Those with First Class honours from the universities that we think are the best, were unable to explain themselves. However, those who had come from the village polytechnics going up were able to articulate themselves very well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we move on, I suggest that you include the need to ensure that this education is accessible to everyone. Access means that we include Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). How can TVETs, vocational education, also be possible for PWDs?"
}