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{
"id": 1240124,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1240124/?format=api",
"text_counter": 347,
"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": "Hon. Speaker, the decision about JSSs is now six years old, namely, since 2017 when we started Grade One. There is no engaging reverse gear. We cannot go back to reconsider the decision. We are moving forward with JSS. The second set of question is that a total of Ksh7.662 billion was utilised to build 9,721 classrooms in our secondary schools. These classrooms are currently being used and have reduced the ever-growing congestion in our secondary schools. This was informed by a taskforce that was formed around 2020 which was given the responsibility and mandate to look at enhancing access, relevance, transition, equity, and equality for effective curriculum reforms implementation, which was chaired by Prof. Fatuma Chege. It found out that there was a deficit of classrooms in our secondary schools to the tune of 2,633 by then. The enrolment in our secondary schools as per December 2020 was 3,405,596 students. By December 2021, a year after, the enrolment in our secondary schools had increased to 3,523,428 learners. In December 2022, the enrolment had grown to 3,526,197 learners. The present enrolment stands at 3,690,376 learners. This, therefore, means that since 2020, there has been an increase of 287,780 learners. Together, with the pre-existing deficit, it translates to a requirement of 9,028 additional classrooms. Consequently, the 9,721 classrooms that were constructed are assisting to address the current deficit as well as the future demand for more classrooms. It is important to note that with the Government’s policy of 100 per cent transition, the enrolment in our secondary schools increases by an average of 8.5 per cent annually. More classrooms will, therefore, be required to meet the ever-growing demand. Hon. Members, from your respective constituencies, I am sure you have witnessed that there are no empty classrooms. The classrooms that were built in all our secondary schools are in use. Concerning the Question by the Member of Parliament for Mandera South, the school feeding programme started way back in 1979 when the Government rolled out the School Milk Programme. It was supported by the World Food Programme (WFP). They continued supporting us until 2017 when they stopped giving any funding to the Kenyan Government for this particular programme. The Ministry of Education, through the National Council for Nomadic Education (NACONEK), undertook the programme and it has been giving food to 26 ASAL counties. The programme targets two million children from the ASAL regions which consist of 26 counties. The NACONEK provides food to the following 11 counties, namely, Mandera, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Baringo, West Pokot, Lamu, and Turkana. There are other 15 counties that are provided with cash transfers, and they include Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Nyeri, Kajiado, Narok, Kilifi, Kwale, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Laikipia, parts of Nairobi, and Taita Taveta. A total of Ksh336,281,000 has been spent under the programme for the just concluded term. In this financial year, a total of Ksh1.96 billion has been spent on the school feeding programme. The remaining period until the expiry of the financial year is well taken care of and there will be food in each and every part of these counties."
}