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{
    "id": 403734,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/403734/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "we should put a lot of attention to the syllabus. So, I am proposing that we meet the relevant Ministry at the higher level and the departments in the counties dealing with education so that they can totally review the curriculum that we normally teach our children to put a premium on science, like the way they do in Singapore. I once rode in a taxi in Singapore and I asked the driver; “why is it that this country is so brilliant as it is today; with flowers everywhere and you do not even see trash anywhere? When a leaf falls down, it is picked up immediately almost automatically. He answered “it is because we have realized that we do not have any natural resources. We do not have cows, we do not have any farms, but we have human beings.” So, what they decided to do is to change their syllabus so that it reads science, technology and innovation. They have put a lot of incentives in primary schools so that their pupils can innovate and invent anything. We can identify talents very early. These talents are shaped up after form four up to top universities or top research countries in the world where they can now go and train the child and then he comes back to lead. When he comes back, he brings back the knowledge learned. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am bringing two ideas here. The first one is that our syllabus should be totally changed if we have to move with the current trends, particularly to conform to Vision 2030. This vision wants us all to collectively improve our lifestyles. How can we improve our lifestyles if the training that we give is just rudimentary? We must emphasis on science and research in our syllabus. Many countries have put a lot of investment in information technology. Computers must be introduced to our children at an early age. We talk about farming in this country. Where do we get farm implements that we are using for ploughing? They have been invented by somebody else. Are we saying that we cannot do the same? If we train our children on science and put technology as a premium in our syllabus, just like it has now been done in Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT), I am sure students doing engineering will invent gadgets that will be useful in our farming activities. I am talking about very cheap things that can be invented by our people and then be upgraded and taken up commercially. The same JKUAT is where the Senator for Nyamira County was talking about bananas farming which can be improved using modern technology and research. For example, we have tissue culture technology of growing bananas in JKUAT. This technology can be introduced in Kisii and other areas where bananas are grown to improve their yield. But what do we, as Government, contribute in terms of investment to improve our agricultural produce? The percentage we have contributed in terms of money for research is very little. We do not have any policy and that is very serious. That is why I am proposing that we have a department within the Ministry of Agriculture which will oversee what can be done for us to achieve Vision 2030. We must wake up from slumber and change the direction of this country if we have to realize Vision 2030. But how do we achieve Vision 2030? We can only achieve it if we put science as the number one subject in our syllabus. I am not saying the other subjects are not important, but we must put more emphasis on science subjects. We cannot specialize if you are learning Christian Religious Education (CRE), history, science and geography at the same time. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if we compare ourselves to other countries, we are quite far behind because a lot of effort has not been put on scientific progress. We have not progressed well in terms of well trained human resources in science and technology, yet we can do it if we 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"
}