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{
    "id": 140636,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/140636/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 417,
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I note with appreciation the fact that the Ministry was able to cater for the negotiated increased salaries for teachers. You will note that at the beginning of the year, there was a teachers strike and there were negotiations. Before the agreement was arrived at, there were issues of mistrust in the sense that previously negotiated agreements were never implemented. I want to appreciate the fact that this time, it has been taken care of. On the same note it is the concern of my committee and this should be a very great concern to the Ministry that last year, we had a lot of unrest in our schools. One thing that the students reminded us and we did discuss and debate it in this House, was the need for us, as leaders, to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that we carry ourselves every other day in a very decent and organized manner. We should try as much as possible to avoid making some leeway that can make the teachers walk to the streets. It is important that the Ministry becomes proactive, so that agreements are implemented. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Ministry requested for Kshs138,277,241,711. In the provision, there was a shortfall of over Kshs3.6 billion. This is of great concern to us, as a country, because we have made several commitments to ensure that we improve, not only the quality, but access of education to our children. We, as a country, note with great concern that we introduced Free Primary Education Programme (FPE) in 2003. In this year’s Budget, there is a shortfall of Kshs1.9 billion on the money meant for the FPE. Last year we again introduced the free secondary education. We are concerned that there was a shortfall of up to Kshs1.5 billion towards this wonderful and noble endeavor that we have taken as a country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I speak, I would like to note that there is no Act of Parliament to protect FPE and free secondary initiatives. We, as a Committee, are also concerned this should be taken very seriously by the Ministry, on the reduction of the money meant for the School Feeding Programme (SFP) in our schools. As you will note, there is serious drought in this country and across the board, you will realize that our schools are not able to access food. Sometimes when they access, it is very expensive. It is very important that we take care of our children because children cannot read and understand anything on empty stomachs. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the shortfall of Kshs20 million for the secondary schools laboratory equipment is of great concern to us. This is a programme that has assisted many small secondary schools across the country. There is need to reconsider this. There are many other things that the Ministry has suspended as a result of the shortfall in allocation. It is the concern of this Committee that most of these things are very important to us."
}