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{
    "id": 469820,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469820/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 161,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Hassan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 431,
        "legal_name": "Hassan Omar Hassan Sarai",
        "slug": "hassan-omar-hassan-sarai"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I come here to second the Motion and the amendment to the Motion on the basis that we all realize that education plays the most critical role in terms of our development agenda. In fact, during the civil rights movement of the United States of America (USA), many believed that equality can be best be promoted through education. For me, I do not think it is just about the physical structure called the university as alluded to by some of our colleagues, hon. Senators. I do believe that the university and the middle level colleges will act as fodder for development. If you look at many countries which are developed, there is a certain college in that county or city. So, the university or middle level college acts as the engine for growth. It is the support given that leads the university to grow and make the area into an urbanized area. This is the kind of manpower that we will need to ensure that our country and devolved structures are sufficiently capacitated by the right technical expertise and the right professionals who will equip us with the right formula and human resource that will drive the engine of devolution. Therefore, university education will no longer be termed as a privilege. In fact, all over the country today, the basic minimum requirement for many positions is the university degree. Even the Senate was once taunted to set a basic minimum of a university degree. If you look at the reasons advanced by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), is that the Senators and the Members of the National Assembly do not hold a minimum of university degree or any particular qualification. Therefore, they do not hold merit or any particular consideration in terms of professionalism. Education has grown into a right; education is a right. I know that Mombasa is not taken to be marginalized. But for all intents and purposes, the local communities in Mombasa have been marginalized. That is why we see the kind of social discomfort that has led to some youths organizing or mobilizing around certain themes like marginalization and exclusion. So, these universities and tertiary institutions or technical colleges that are set up in the counties must have a deliberate quota that tends to satisfy the needs of that locality. There must be programmes of affirmative action even if the standards of education do not grow at the same momentum, but there can be certain bridging courses that can be instituted to facilitate admission to these universities. It would defeat the purpose to have a university in Mandera, Garissa or any other part of the country, but the local communities are unable to gain admission. Therefore, there must be a proviso in the law that allows the local community to have a certain quota that is guaranteed through scholarships and financing of the central government and county governments to ensure that everybody receives quality education that can satisfy the goal of devolution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rose to second this Motion because I know the critical and central nature of education. Many of us remain marginalized because of the lack of 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."
}