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{
"id": 1491841,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1491841/?format=api",
"text_counter": 320,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Ogamba",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Education",
"speaker": null,
"content": "This amount is for the provision of specialized learning materials, assistive devices and technologies. For learners in special boarding schools, Kshs455 million was allocated to cater for 43,645 special needs learners. This allocation is meant to subsidize boarding expenses and pay salaries for non- teaching staff and these allocations are indicated in Tables Six and Seven. For junior schools, the Ministry has budgeted an allocation of Kshs30.6 billion for junior capitation. All learners, inclusive of learners with special needs and disabilities, receive a capitation of Kshs15,042 per learner per year as free day junior school capitation. Special learners in special junior boarding schools, as well as those in pre- vocational institutions, receive a further top-up of capitation of Kshs35,730 per learner per year, to subsidize boarding expenses and pay salaries for non-teaching support staff. At the secondary school level, the approved rate of capitation per learner is Kshs22,244 per learner per year. In addition, an additional budgetary allocation of Kshs200 million is provided annually to cater for special needs learners' capitation as a top-up capitation grant. Special needs grants are meant to support the provision of specialized learning materials, assistive devices and technologies, personnel emoluments for non-teaching staff and for food subsidy for the learners mainly in Special Needs Education (SNE) boarding schools. The implementation of the minimum essential package has been provided for in the draft Sessional Paper, which the Ministry has developed to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on education reform. The Sessional Paper is pending Cabinet and Parliamentary approval. Once these approvals are granted, the Ministry will start implementing the package. Question, Part (b), the special needs primary schools do not have a specific budget line for infrastructure development in the budget. Instead, they rely on the allocation generally provided for primary schools. However, in the Financial Year 2024/2025, no provision was made for infrastructure development in primary schools. Consequently, there are no ongoing projects funded under this budget line. On the third question, the proposed projects to construct and equip the National Assistive Devices Production Unit at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) was birthed through a Presidential pronouncement when His Excellency the President visited the Institute in October 2023. The project was allocated Kshs350 million for the main structure and a further Kshs150 million for initial equipment through Supplementary One of Financial Year 2023/2024. However, only Kshs150 million recurrent allocation was disbursed. The Kshs350 million development allocation lapsed. The procurement for the works was undertaken and construction started in June, 2024. The works are now at 30 per cent completion and estimated to be completed in June, 2025. However, the project faces financing risk if the anticipated allocation is not reinstated and disbursed. The delay in funding may impact the completion timelines and cause price escalation. In the current financial year, the allocation to KISE for the project was rationalized to nil, meaning that the project is not funded this year. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, regarding the procurement and supply of instructional materials and devices to special schools and units, I wish to state as follows - The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}