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{
    "id": 1498674,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1498674/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 268,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr Julius Migos Ogamba",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Education",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. The University of Nairobi has clarified that the Dental School continues to deliver orthodontics education despite the transitions in the teaching staff. In particular, two key members of the faculty left. Those were Dr James Ngesa, who resigned in November 2023 and Dr Peter Okong’o, whose contract expired in May 2023. Upon their departure, Dr Nathan Siwa, a senior faculty member, maintained the teaching schedule despite the heavy workload. This has been necessary to ensure continuity. It is important to note that, despite the staffing challenges, the department continues to deliver orthodontics education through multiple teaching modes, including physical and online lectures, tutorials and clinical teaching. The department remains well-equipped with essential facilities, including teaching laboratories, skills laboratories, teaching clinics, lecture theatres and qualified orthodontics technicians. The university has taken steps to remedy the situation. Dr Ngesa has indicated a willingness to return in the course of this month. The university is also taking measures to ensure proper succession management. Orthodontics is a crucial component of multiple academic programmes within the Dental School. It is offered in the Bachelor's Dental Surgery programme through two-course units, VDS 490 and VDS 590. At the post-graduate level, orthodontics is taught as part of the master's dental surgery in oral and maxillofacial surgery under code VMS 590, and the master of dental surgery in paediatric dentistry, which includes two courses, VPE 822 and HDS 6340. The course is also included in the Master of Dental Surgery in Pedantology under the code HDS 6340. The University of Nairobi has implemented comprehensive measures to ensure students complete all required coursework before graduation. In April 2024, the university administration approved a five-week extension programme specifically for year five bachelor of dental surgery students to complete their outstanding clinical rotations and examinations."
}