Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 401232,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/401232/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 285,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "know, not everybody follows the formal route of education. Therefore, we should have TIVET centres and upgrade our polytechnics. We should also begin to change the mindset of Kenyans; that not everybody should end up at the university level. There are also blue collar jobs. In fact, in the developed world, it is the blue collar jobs that are in demand. They are also the ones that pay well. We might also begin to see such changes in this country if we are able to train and make this work lucrative for various people. I was touched and disappointed with the level of infrastructure that has been put in place regarding the physically challenged students in the various schools. This came out of the Report. They have been left out and this means that issues of mobility have been ignored. We also do not know what sort of physical challenges these are. Sometimes they are physical challenges and also mental challenges and yet we use the usual formal curriculum to train people. We do not know the amount of mainstreaming that has been done. For example, in some schools, the physically challenged are allowed to be as normal as possible because they interact with others. I think that really leaves a big gap in terms of the knowledge and information that can be given to the physically challenged. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, at Sigalagala Technical School, the Committee was impressed with what they saw and it was, probably, the model school for that county. I think what needs to be brought out is what made it a model school so that again that can become a template for moving forward and improving their education levels. How has one county managed to succeed and others have not managed to succeed? Is it a question of resources, leadership or importance that has been given to education in that particular county? Then there is the issue of standardization of the ECD curriculum. I think right now as it stands and as the Report stipulated, everybody is doing their own thing. There is no policy and there is no standardization which I think is very dangerous remembering that these children will leave and come through the primary schools and expect to go through the trajectory of going to secondary schools and universities. So, it is important to have that sort of control. So, in terms of moving forward, the issue, especially of having a standardized ECD curriculum is very important for quality control and making sure that standard setting is done at a high pitch. Therefore, there is need for a follow up for all the others. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to school feeding programmes, again, they are being applied sporadically. One school is doing it better than the other and yet this has to be Government policy. For example, among the poorest of the poor, sometimes it is the school feeding programmes that actually get the children to go to school. In the long run, in terms of development, it really contributes to ensuring mainstreaming from the various social classes so that you do not leave the very poor out who end up getting disinterested. In Nyamira County, for example, it was very encouraging to find out that girl- child dropout rates had actually reduced. Therefore, there was improvement in terms of the girl-child education. That was a very good observation and important area for counties to encourage, so that we have gender balance. For example, in the national 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"
}