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{
    "id": 297949,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/297949/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 312,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the first time, against all the Bills that we have looked at in this House, I have seen a Bill that very well mainstreamed the issues of human rights, children rights, women’s rights, rights of persons with disabilities and rights of the marginalized through regional representation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to just laud this Bill because it professionalizes the teaching profession. For example, if you look at the process of recruiting the commissioners, vetting body and even teachers, it is through a very competitive and open process. I want to laud the Minister, especially, for one, acknowledging the issue of the best interest of the child and also giving strength to the Sexual Offences Act; that when you are a teacher and sexual predator, then you have no business teaching. This is because in the teaching profession, you interact a lot with young children. A lot of times in the past when teachers have fallen culprits to abusing children, they have been subjected to disciplinary action where they are suspended for a few days and then they come back. But I am glad that this Bill takes a very bold step that punishes those teachers. Actually, it is one of the reasons to disqualify a person from the teaching profession. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am also very happy on the provision, in the best interest of the child, in Clause 27. I am very happy about the issue of facilitating career progression for teachers. Many teachers are actually doing a lot of training on their own. It is good to institutionalize that and recognize and reward the hard work that the teachers are doing. I know many teachers who during holidays go back to schools to do a lot of work related to their career progression. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to just laud the provision on access to justice in Clause 12. It says that the Commission shall not put too much attention or will not be bound by strict rules of evidence. That acknowledges the fact that most of the population in this country are not lawyers. Many have not had access to education, but if they have certain complaints, they may also be able to access the Commission without too much attention to technicalities. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that the Minister is very well intentioned when he makes provision that one of the reasons that teachers may be disqualified, is if he or she does not have good moral character. When I first read that, I had actually indicated that we need to define what not having good moral character is. But I have actually then seen under the Third Schedule, that there is an attempt to define what disciplinary offences are, especially in relation to description of the word “moral.”"
}