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{
    "id": 1237924,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1237924/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mbeere North, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ruku GK",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Monitoring and evaluation is another thing which should be properly anchored by the Ministry of Education to ensure the curriculum is properly implemented and it should be a course in every Junior Secondary School in the Republic of Kenya. The involvement of the community and parents is an important component for the acceptability and proper implementation of this curriculum. Teachers and parents can collaborate to encourage student participation in extra curriculum activities such as sports, music, drama and crafts. Regular parent-teacher conferences can provide an opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss students’ academic progress, behaviour, attendance and other issues. Additionally, parents and teachers can work together to promote health and wellness of students. This can involve encouraging healthy eating habits, physical activities and regular medical check-ups. Regular parent-teacher conferences could provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss the progress and challenges of their children. Parents can share any concerns they have with the teachers and work together to find solutions. They can also collaborate to promote positive behaviour and social skills among students. Teachers can share information on behavioural issues with parents and work together to address them, while parents on their part should also reinforce good behaviour and values at home. In many of the schools in our constituencies, this is something which is not happening. There are policies required to be created by the Ministry of Education. There are quite a number of factors which need to be considered by the Ministry of Education when coming up with a comprehensive Junior Secondary School policy. Among these factors include the legal framework. The curriculum reform should be undertaken within the national legislation informed by Article 53 of the Constitution, which recognises free and compulsory basic education as a right for every child in the Republic of Kenya. Article 43 on economic and social rights states that every person has a right to education. The Fourth Schedule mandates the Ministry of Education to undertake education policy standards and curriculum to actualise this provision. Various legal documents have been deployed and ought to be followed accordingly in the implementation of the Junior Secondary Education. These include the Basic Education Act Session Paper No.14 of 2012, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Act No.4 of 2013 and the Kenya National Examination Council Act of 2012. In addition, the country provision for education should be guided by international pacts such as Sustainable Development Goals, 2015. The highlight of these policies includes the provision of free and compulsory basic education that is reformed to inculcate interest and skills in science, technology, innovation, as well as environmental concerns for a vibrant economy. What should also be considered by the Ministry of Education in coming up with a comprehensive Junior Secondary policy is assessment and evaluation. A system of assessment and evaluation that is fair and transparent should be developed and implemented to monitor the progress of Junior Secondary Schools’ learners to develop more complete and fair learner evaluation process. There is need for focusing on both cognitive and non-cognitive attributes with fair balance between formative and summative assessments of learners. Another very important issue when considering this policy is funding. At the moment, the funding of Junior Secondary School in the Republic is one thing. Adequate funding should be provided by the Government to ensure successful implementation of the policy. Many headteachers in our primary schools, especially in my constituency, the great Mbeere North, have a problem of funding and there is no way we can be talking about the NG-CDF if it is unable to fund primary schools. It funds secondary schools, tertiary colleges and universities. The Government policy provides free primary education. However, if you talk to teachers in primary schools, you will discover there are serious problems there. Funding is one of the greatest factors which needs to be well focused by the Ministry of Education. 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."
}