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"id": 213724,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/213724/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Prof. Saitoti",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Education",
"speaker": {
"id": 205,
"legal_name": "George Muthengi Kinuthia Saitoti",
"slug": "george-saitoti"
},
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair. In this respect, it is my very great pleasure to move Vote R31 and D31 for the Ministry of Education. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, but before I present the details in these Estimates, I wish to reaffirm the Ministry's commitment to the full implementation of the current policy framework governing the sector whose goal is to provide equal opportunities to education for all 2528 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 17, 2007 children and other learners, including those with special needs. As expected, in the Estimates before this House, the consistent allocation of large sums of our national resources to the Ministry of Education, confirms the higher prioritization and commitment of the Government to the provision of quality education. Over the last four years, my Ministry has implemented various reforms in the education sector to facilitate the achievement of the goals set out in the National Economic Recovery Strategy Paper. We also remain fully committed to meeting our international development commitment, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), education for all as well as the delivery of policies set out in the Sessional Paper No.1 of 2005, on Policy Framework for Education, Training and Research. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Vision 2030 has provided our country with clear guidance for the use of science and technology, as well as our other resources in the fight against poverty and other development. In our pursuit of the goals established in the Vision 2030, education and training will play a critical role. Therefore, by providing equal opportunities for all Kenyans to acquire knowledge and skills, we shall be empowering all Kenyans to play their part in the fight against poverty and under-development. This is the reason the Government chose education as being central in its pro-poor investment. The development of quality human capital is key to sustaining our country's economic growth and the realization of Vision 2030. In addition, we, as a country, must ensure that our labour force effectively participates in the demanding global economy, by giving them relevant knowledge and skills that come with education, as such efforts are geared to be in line with the current trends of globalization of the world economy. In line with the above, the Ministry is implementing the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP) which is based on the premise that quality education and training contributes to enhanced equity, economic growth and expansion of employment opportunities, thus, reducing poverty. In addition, the KESSP provides a strong foundation for sector development and it is intended to facilitate the attaining of the MDGs and education-for-all by the year 2015. Hon. Members will recall that KESSP was designed to be implemented for five years, from July 2005 to June 2010, at an initial cost of Kshs542 billion. However, following the success in the free primary education and rapid expansion of the secondary sub-sector, we will need much more resources than was initially estimated. With this in mind, I wish to take this opportunity to appeal for more support from our partners in meeting the financing gap that exists, for us to make this very important programme a reality. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as a Ministry, we are firmly committed to ensuring the consolidation of the gains that have accrued from the implementation of the free primary education, which have seen enrolment increase from 5.9 million in 2002, to about 8 million currently. This rapid growth has exerted pressure on the secondary sub-sector, while pushing transition from primary to secondary school level from 47 per cent in 2003 to 60 per cent in 2007. As a result, enrolment in our secondary schools has risen from 820,000 in 2002 to 1,030,000 in 2007. This fast growth and the high level of poverty in many households calls for increased support to the poor who cannot afford to meet the cost of secondary education. In an attempt to make education more affordable and accessible, the Government will, with effect from January, 2008, finance tuition fees chargeable in all public secondary schools on a per capita basis of Kshs3,600 per student, per year. To implement this policy, the Ministry will require Kshs4.3 billion, for the school year 2008. However, it is envisaged that this figure will rise as the number of those in transition to secondary schools increases. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education has continued to deepen reforms to address key sectoral issues, especially, through the strengthening of the management and July 17, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2529 delivery of education services at all levels. Further, the Ministry is in the process of revitalizing the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE), in order to strengthen its capacity to carry out research and development of a relevant and affordable curriculum. In this regard, the Government has already approved a new structure and terms and conditions of service for its employees. As hon. Members are aware, many of our students in urban slums and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), are still out of school due to inadequate number of schools. In addition, many primary school buildings are in a poor state of repair, and have inadequate classrooms and other facilities to cater for the learning needs of the increasing number of students. Some schools in far- off areas lack the necessary sanitation facilities, hence, making the learning environment unattractive, especially, for the girl-child. In addition, there is also need to address the plight of the more vulnerable children, such as the orphans, those with special needs and others, to ensure that they do enrol in school, remain there and transit to higher levels. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, hon. Members are also aware that the Government has decided to fast-track the implementation of the negotiated teachers' salaries award of 1997. In this regard, the Ministry will be implementing the final phase of the agreement and has, therefore, factored in an amount of Kshs---"
}