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{
    "id": 34585,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/34585/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 375,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Olweny",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 122,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Ayiecho Olweny",
        "slug": "patrick-olweny"
    },
    "content": "So, to some extent, we have supported the girl-child in this issue. Every girl-child receives three packets of sanitary pads every term. In addition to this, the girls receive information on issues like feminine hygiene, puberty and menstrual management from trained nurses. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Gender Desk has also been key in the development of gender in education policy, gender standards guidelines, sexual harassment and sexual offences awareness brochure. The investment programme organizes mentorship programmes for both boys and girls to encourage them to compete and excel in education, sensitize institutional managers on gender mainstreaming, advocate on the importance of culture and education through media and posters, among many other activities. The Ministry of Education acknowledges that there are other isolated organizations that provide sanitary pads to girls in schools. The Ministry is working on a coordination framework through the Gender Policy. The Ministry, this financial year, has been allocated Kshs301 million for the purchase of sanitary towels. However, as you have heard, we have 2.6 million girls in our public schools - primary and secondary. The amount that is required to help them get adequate sanitary towels is Kshs1.6 billion. So, you can see the shortfall. I will table, for the benefit of Members, a concept paper that the Minister wrote to address that, given the amount of Kshs301 million. The Ministry of Education Gender desk has developed a concept paper on the provision of sanitary towels for girls in primary and secondary schools, whose theme is: Keeping girls in school.” So, based on the tentative proposals, we have worked on different scenarios on how we can go about handling this issue, given the Kshs310 million only. The money given to us is so much inadequate and I appeal to my colleagues here to help us push for more money, so that we can help the girl-child. So, in principle, the Ministry supports the Motion. But I would like to let Members know that we may not need to create a new department because we already have a unit that is handling this subject. All we need is to strengthen and facilitate the Gender Desk. Help us to source for more funds so that we can roll out a nationwide programme to assist the girl-child to remain in school. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I support."
}