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{
    "id": 401467,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/401467/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand to support this very important Motion that concerns the citizens of Kenya, our children. The Constitution has transferred ECD programmes to county governments but the secondary and primary education to the national Government. This will, certainly, bring challenges with regard to implementation. One, this is because most of our ECD classrooms are located within primary schools. If we were to strictly separate the two institutions, there would most likely be duplication which is costly. Training of teachers is still a function of the national Government. Teacher training colleges which cater for the ECD are under the national Government. How do we harmonise this? There is the issue of land. If we were to separate the ECD centres from primary schools, this exercise would be costly because the county governments would have to spend money to procure land. For us to save costs and make the implementation effective and affordable, it is important for the two levels of government to work in harmony even if it means having an agreement in accordance with Article 187 of the Constitution. The two levels of Government should work jointly. With regard to training, this is a function that can continue to be implemented on agreement. The issue of curriculum development should be considered factoring in a uniformed curriculum for the whole country. The national Government has the expertise and experience to develop such a curriculum. So, it is necessary that the national Government develops this curriculum even on the standards that we want teachers to attain in terms of qualifications and remunerations. The ECD teachers have scarified a lot. Some of them are paid on ad hoc basis while some have been going without salaries for many years. Some of them who are in “well to do” areas are well paid, as Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale has said while others who are in poor areas live from hand to mouth. You will find that the most unqualified people are the ones who volunteer to handle these children. We want to handle our children with dignity. We want to give them the best education that can be given and even better than the higher levels. This is the foundation of a child. 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"
}