HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 391706,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/391706/?format=api",
"text_counter": 255,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "ethnically. In my opinion, it does not make sense if we are training children who are three or four years up to seven years. In the past, we have seen all of them coming from one ethnic group, speaking the same language, being trained in the same language. We expect that, at some stage in life, these citizens will appreciate people coming from other regions of this country. It would be in order if it was a policy that at that early stage, a child coming from the same ethnic background and if they go to school and meet another Kenyan coming from a different region, ethnic group or a different cultural background, he will start appreciating people from other regions. That is not the case really. While that has been sustained in secondary schools, it is not the case with nursery schools and institutions of early learning. It is my opinion that if we adopted that as a policy and as a recommendation, it would do us good as a nation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is something else that has emerged in the recent past where you find many of our polytechnics and middle level colleges, being transformed into either constituent colleges of universities or being transformed into something else. In effect, we are actually wiping out middle level colleges. This is a trend that is not doing this country and its economy any good. We should sustain these middle level colleges and consider that different counties have different needs. Therefore, these colleges should have tailor-made curriculum that gives maximum input and output to the host county. If it is an agricultural county, it should have more of its course tailor-made towards that. If it is a county that is industrial or a cosmopolitan county like Nairobi, we should have middle level colleges that are commensurate with the population and what is more specific to that area, thus enabling them to get more skills oscillating towards that. I have now taken note that Committees are bringing reports. This is a good trend. However, I do not know how it will be helpful. We have 47 counties. This report has been given after a visit to three counties. In my opinion, it is not representative enough. Unless we interrogate reports after a visit to every three counties, I am just wondering how long that will take. If you look at the counties that were visited, most of their problems are universal. You can relate very well from one county to the other. I would be of the opinion that it would be more justifiable if we visited a county from the east, west, north and one from a cosmopolitan place like Nairobi. When we have visited like 15 or 20 counties out of 47, then you can say it is representative enough. Even in terms of data collection, you should have visited some of the most populated counties, sparsely populated counties, counties which host migrant communities, counties which have special needs like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and so on. After visiting 20 counties out of 47 or at least 15, then you can compile a report that can be representative of the Kenyan situation. But if you visit three counties from one region, then you compile a report; the report is very good, but then you will have to be visiting clusters of counties from time to time. After 20 such reports, then we can come up with one master report on education. This is from Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Laikipia counties. In my opinion, they represent a specific region where certain problems are prevalent. So, you do not know what a county like Garissa is going through. We do not know about counties which host very many people like Mombasa and Nairobi counties. Otherwise, it is a good trend, but I feel that before a report is submitted to the House, a Committee ought to have visited at least 20 counties. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}