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{
    "id": 399499,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/399499/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 184,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mohamed Diriye",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2995,
        "legal_name": "Diriye Abdullahi Mohamed",
        "slug": "diriye-abdullahi-mohamed"
    },
    "content": "education because the number of teachers is very low. The number of textbooks is very low. The number of other learning materials is very low. So, we are asking ourselves: Is this really FPE? This is because this money that is now being provided is not having any effect at all. It is doing nothing and it is worse for those schools with low enrolment. For schools that have a higher enrolment rate, the situation is a bit better. For example, in my Wajir County in 2012 the number of pupils who did Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE), 80 per cent of them got grades “D”, “D” plus and “D” minus. Those students in high school did not get enough basic education at the primary level. Things go wrong at the primary level. If we do not improve the quality of primary education, then we are going to transfer this to the secondary education. If we transfer poorly educated students to secondary schools, the effect will also be translated nationally. We will not have good educated people. This is really having a big effect on our economy, skills development and education standards. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we fear that we will not get enough students to pursue middle level courses like nursing, health and water engineering in diploma level colleges. Last year, the medical training colleges set the intake at a certain level and students from northern Kenya were not able to gain entry because they scored very low in their KCSE. Low performance in KCSE is as a result of low performance in the primary education. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we therefore need to increase this capitation grant, otherwise the objectives of the FPE will be lost. The FPE had very good objectives, to enhance access to tuition, improve quality and provide relevant primary education. Yes, access and enrolment have been achieved but what about quality and the relevance of our education system? It was also meant to reverse the declining enrolment trends at primary schools but right now when students are very many, there are no textbooks. There are no enough learning materials. There are no enough teachers. Does this high enrolment rate have a meaningful impact? It was also meant to reduce the burden of the cost of education previously borne by the parents in the provision of primary school education. So, it was to reduce the burden on the poor parents but the cost is still going back to them again. This is because Kshs1,020 is doing nothing. It is too little. It cannot purchase learning materials like textbooks and other facilities. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, that is why we need this figure to be increased from the current Kshs1,020 to Kshs3,060. This is so that the burden on the parents is reduced. This is so that we have quality primary education in our schools. The FPE is recognized in Vision 2030. Education is recognized as the foundation for us Kenya achieving a middle level income economy. Further, the Constitution of Kenya, the Policy Framework on Education and Training, 2012 and the Education Bill, 2013 provide for the right of every Kenyan child to free and compulsory basic education. If this figure of Kshs1,020 is not increased, then all that will be negated. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the issue of every child having access to free and compulsory education is being wasted and is actually being lost if we will not improve this amount from the current Kshs1,020 to Kshs3,060. The country therefore is geared towards raising the quality and the relevance of education to all school going children in order to attain the education for all. That is also what we will lose if--- The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}