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{
    "id": 1240123,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1240123/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 346,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ezekiel Machogu",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13458,
        "legal_name": "Ezekiel Machogu Ombaki",
        "slug": "ezekiel-machogu-ombaki"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Concerning the first Question by Hon. Kaunya, the decision to domicile junior secondary schools in primary schools is not a temporary arrangement. The matter has been considered extensively and the decision was made after considering a range of key factors. As all the Members here are aware, a Presidential Working Party was established in order to take views from Kenyans. It went to all the 47 counties and engaged with the unions and experts. I am also aware that there was an opportunity for Members of Parliament to give their views to the Presidential Working Party. During the stakeholder engagements and public participation sessions, which are clearly enshrined in Article 118 of the Constitution, 86 per cent of the respondents expressed the view that JSS should be hosted in existing primary schools. Only 11 per cent advocated for hosting JSSs in the existing secondary schools. Two per cent were of the opinion that new JSSs should be built. Being a democratic country and since 86 per cent of Kenyans said that the JSSs should be domiciled in the existing primary schools, that is what was contained in the interim report that was given to the President. Thereafter, we implemented what Kenyans said. The key factors given by the stakeholders that led to the decision to domicile JSSs in the existing primary schools were as follows. It was established that the age of children in this category is between 10-11 years. With regard to development of the learners’ cognitive abilities at this age, they undergo rapid physical, mental, and emotional growth. They experience a lot of development challenges. The other thing that came out very clearly is that at this age, they require a lot of parental support as they undergo psychosocial and emotional transformation. Kenyans said it would not be proper to take them to boarding schools where they would be far from their parents. Others said there is need for learners at this age to acquire knowledge and skills at the same time to foster social cohesion and appropriate values which is enhanced by parental involvement and engagement. Finally, it was said that in order for the learners to operate optimally, they required an environment that would provide psycho-emotional development and support. 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."
}