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{
    "id": 229051,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/229051/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Rutto",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 323,
        "legal_name": "Sammy Kipkemoi Rutto",
        "slug": "sammy-rutto"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for protecting me. I wish to point out some of the positive elements of the Speech. One of them concerns education, which is my docket, as the Shadow Minister for Education. Indeed, the free primary education has created a mark in the educational development of this country. I think we need to appreciate the effort being made by the Government, particularly, in improving access and retention of our children in the primary schools circle. The President did mention that the free primary education has improved the transition from primary to secondary schools. I wish to commend him for the efforts that his Government is making in that regard. However, while this has happened, the increment of access, retention and transition that has 210 PARLIAENTARY DEBATES March 28, 2007 occurred has put a lot of pressure on secondary school education. Teachers, in particular, are very few in our secondary schools. Likewise, physical facilities are also scarce. Although the President did indicate that the Government is going to put more emphasis on secondary schools development, I am sorry to say that it is not quick enough to stem the problems that are arising in the secondary schools circle. We are very busy, as Members of Parliament, trying to assist secondary schools using the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). But the Government is doing very little to increase staffing in those schools. I would like to urge that some measures be taken in that direction. The pressure on secondary schools is very high. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am afraid that if we do not attend to those factors that I have mentioned, the quality of education in secondary schools is going to drop. As a result, the quality of education in the higher education sector is also going to drop. I am sorry to say that with the introduction of free primary school education, there is little that takes place in terms of education. What the initiative has done is to improve access and retention to schools. But I wonder whether there is any education that is taking place. This is because in the absence of teachers - and we have lamented here time and again that staffing in primary and secondary schools is very low - I doubt whether any education takes place in those institutions."
}