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{
    "id": 238822,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/238822/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 245,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Mwendwa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 275,
        "legal_name": "Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa",
        "slug": "nyiva-mwendwa"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for being gender-sensitive. I stand to support this Motion before us. Having said so, there is no doubt that we have a shortage of teachers, especially in the arid and semi arid areas. I listened attentively to the Minister, because I was here from the beginning, he said that funds have been allocated for the completion of a teacher training college in Coast Province. In Kitui District, in my constituency, we have Kwa Vonza Primary Teacher Training College which was started in 1982; over 24 years ago. It has never been completed. The buildings are more than half-way completed. However, it has been \"standing\" there yet we have a shortage of over 1,000 primary school teachers in the district. You will find that in some areas the teachers will get sick or malingers if he is posted to certain areas because there is no water. We do not even talk about electricity. Most of the times there is no food and the teachers opt to ask for transfers to other places. They do not want to die there. You will find a school with eight classes has only four teachers. Is it possible for only four teachers to teach the eight classes effectively? Normally, they share the work load during the day. Some come in the morning while others come in the afternoon. Of course, the results of the examinations are very telling. This makes a vicious cycle. Since you are not taught well, you will not pass and, therefore, you cannot even qualify to join a teacher training course and other colleges. So, when these students complete their Form IV, because it is so difficult to join any university, they have nothing to do. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would recommend highly that this area be considered. When the Ministry for Education gives out bursaries, they have a poverty index allowance. We normally get more funds for bursaries. However, you will find that this is not adequate at all for our secondary schools. We even give out bursaries from our Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) but it is still not enough. I would like to request the Ministry to consider these arid and semi-arid areas or hardship areas. They should explore possibilities of providing free secondary school education to cater for needy students. We give bursaries but they are not enough because there is so much need. When the drought sets in, the whole concept does not work at all. Is it possible for the Ministry of Education to consider providing free secondary school education to cater for these needy students?"
}