Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 262981,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/262981/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 315,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eng. Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir and my good friend, Mr. Maina Kamau. I think Bwana Kamau gave me this opportunity because of the importance of this Motion and the history that some of us have in relation to this kind of Motion. Mr. Assistant Minister, it is a pity that somebody can be denied education by this country. This is because if you look at the many youth we have in this country, you will wonder what they can do to improve their lives. The only good thing that happens to most children from poor backgrounds, through God’s grace is to pass their examinations. Therefore, I would ask the Government to relook into this mater and prioritise the issue of going to university. Where it may not be possible after the transition, could this Government seriously consider opening up polytechnics that used to be in place and other colleges which were kind of interim but gave people very serious education and the same people ended up being employed and gave great service? Let me tell you that is a deficiency in our education system. Some of our children should seriously consider being absorbed in those institutions. Secondly, it does not make sense for this country to send students outside and finance universities outside. A university in the US or in the UK just needs a third of foreign students and it will meet its budget. People pay the high fees. Truly, the Government should sit down and device a system where we have universities here including talking to people who are capable in investing in education and put in place serious policies that will encourage them to invest in education. If truly what a third of our students in a university abroad can finance a university, why would we not have programmes, as you have just said, which will be duty free or have tax levied for a number of years? The Government should device a way because denying a child the need to go ahead with education when God has graced the child does not automatically make sense. The Assistant Minister conceded that maybe today you do not have to pass an examination. If you have money you can automatically move right from primary to secondary and university. Maybe, that is why Kenya has graduates but when you employ them, they cannot write a memo and tell you wanted you wanted to hear. Therefore, I beseech this Government to take Mr. Kamau’s Motion seriously and congratulate my friend for bringing this Motion. I would like to say that it is heartache to many parents and most of us. We have children who always come to us to get harambees because they were forced to go for the parallel programme. Let me tell you this and I believe that it is your history as well. Most of us would not be in this House were it not for the free line to pursue education. We would have been condemned to the doldrums of history where we would be roasting maize somewhere in the small towns in the rural areas. Therefore, I beseech the Government through the Assistant Minister whom I have no doubt understands all these to sit down and come up with a policy either way."
}