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{
    "id": 1582581,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1582581/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 567,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emgwen, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Josses Lelmengit",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There is a misplaced perception against Members of Parliament that these Funds belong to them. However, this is purely a national Government Fund. The NG-CDF is under the national Government administration and is managed by the NG-CDF Board. Therefore, the narrative that Members of Parliament misuse NG-CDF funds should cease. It must be made clear that this is a share of the national Government's resources. The NG-CDF was a well-thought-out initiative. I wish to echo the appreciation of former Members of Parliament who conceived this idea to assist under-privileged schools that had not been properly constructed and support needy students from humble backgrounds in villages across the country. Personally, I attended a day school that was in a very poor condition. There were only two classrooms; no laboratories, modern kitchens, dining halls and hostels. Thanks to NG-CDF, most of those facilities have now been built in many schools. I wish to particularly emphasise the importance of day schools. This is because they serve the vulnerable in the society. While NG-CDF covers both boarding and day schools, I focus on day schools because they are primarily attended by students from vulnerable backgrounds. NG-CDF has played a vital role in constructing and developing those institutions. Laboratories in day secondary schools are essential for practical learning and improving student performance. NG-CDF has contributed significantly to the construction of such facilities. In my constituency, Emgwen, for instance, partial scholarships have been awarded to nearly 6,500 students, while over 100 students are on full scholarships. This would not have been possible without the allocation of those funds by the national Government through the NG-CDF Board. I wish to stress the importance of these Funds. As Members of Parliament, we move around our constituencies and encounter heart-wrenching situations. When engaging with locals, we meet people from extremely humble backgrounds. If NG-CDF was to be abolished, it would be devastating. Many students would miss the opportunity for a well- deserved education. Therefore, I urge the public, media and Judiciary to consider this matter from the perspective of Members of Parliament, who frequently visit the grassroots and gather first-hand information. Many students from needy backgrounds benefit from those bursaries. Moreover, in terms of transparency and accountability, Members of Parliament provide oversight. We also have the NG-CDF Board and the relevant committees that are responsible for the management and administration of the Fund. Finally, I wish to clarify a point that has been raised by media houses and other stakeholders, calling for the consolidation of education-related funds into a single pool. Many advocate for a unified education fund to enable free education in the country. However, such The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}