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{
    "id": 1560731,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1560731/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 682,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Cherorot",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me time to contribute. I thank the Senate for coming up with this Bill, and I congratulate the Committee for taking the time to dig deeper and coming out with more details about the Bill. Students with special needs are actually part of our environment and our families. It is only that they have different needs, which is why we say they have special needs. It has taken a lot of time for this Bill to be brought before this House. This is the right time to move forward. If we do so, we will help students with special needs. This should not only happen in schools. I also want to encourage parents to be involved in taking care of these students with special needs. We are all candidates for the special needs category. Today we may be okay, but tomorrow we may find ourselves in the same position. A good learning environment should be created for learners with special needs. In some schools and offices, you will find that there are only staircases available for persons with disabilities to access them. The Government should be encouraged to create a suitable environment for them. My constituency has two special schools: Kipkeleon Special School and Kedowa School for the Deaf. If these students are encouraged and given proper education, they can do marvellous things. Last year, Kedowa School for the Deaf did very well. They qualified for the Kenya National Music Festivals Competition. That was the same thing with Kipkeleon Special School. If we are to help these schools, the Government has to be very keen, especially regarding capitation. The Government should add more capitation for students with special needs. If it does so, the special students will be properly assisted because they have special talents and are good at academics. Some of the personnel in hospitals working as doctors are persons with disabilities. Some of them have good jobs. Therefore, we should not curtail their talents. The Government should have a Permanent Secretary dealing with special needs in the Ministry. By doing so, it will manage students with special needs well. More training and support should be given to teachers with students with special needs. I know they are committed and sacrifice a lot of their time. It is not easy for them. Although some of them have been taught in colleges and universities on special needs, they still need to be encouraged so that they can readily offer themselves to assist students with special needs. Some churches have established schools for learners with special needs. For example, we have Kipchimchim Special School in Kericho County, which was started long ago by the Catholic Church. Most of the students with special needs are taken there. I encourage different institutions to support them, if possible. I support the Bill, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}