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{
    "id": 140629,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/140629/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to congratulate the Ministry, especially for strongly getting the communities involved in education by training management committees on how to manage funds. We have seen the growth in that sector. I now just want to say a word about early childhood development (ECD) education. I am disappointed to hear that even up to now, we have not got funding for it. We cannot have a strong foundation of education without taking a very special care of ECD. I hope that this is one area where the Ministry of Finance will endeavour to have a line Budget for ECD, so that it can properly become part of basic education and thereby, strengthen our education sector even more. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to commend the Ministry for the continued bursary programme. We have seen how well they have supported the needy students but I still urge the Minister to make sure that the percentage that is supposed to go to the girl child does go to the girl child. I know that in our constituencies, as we administer these bursary schemes, this is not something that happens all the time. The Ministry of Education needs to emphasize to hon. Members of this House that when bursaries are being given, the percentage that is supposed to go to each gender does go to it. It is commendable, knowing that we have been suffering for a long time from shortage of teachers. We are pleased to hear that the Minister now has the scheme and the money to put teachers on contracts; that will ease the problem of shortage of teachers, thereby improving our education standards even more. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one very commendable thing is the school feeding programme. We know that at the moment, there is famine and hunger in many parts of the country. I was very encouraged to see that some students will still remain in school and get food. I really want to urge the Minister that even in areas where traditionally schools did not need support in feeding children, we see that nowadays, there is a need. So, I hope that the school feeding programme will be expanded to cover most affected areas. I am very pleased, especially with the partnership we have as the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation with the Ministry of Education. We have come out with a book on school health, which we shall be launching on Wednesday, next week. This will go a long way in strengthening both the health and education of our children. I want to urge the Ministry, and all the teachers, to use this book and strengthen our partnership, because healthy children will do better in school. I hope this will also become part of the teacher training colleges materials, so that teachers can be acquainted with this book even as they train in other areas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir---"
}