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{
    "id": 51522,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/51522/?format=api",
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    "content": "glad that Members have raised pertinent issues here, which will definitely go a long way to inform the report of the taskforce, which will be brought to the Floor of this House for discussion and input by the Members. With regard to the issue of the ECD teachers, the Ministry had intended all along to have the ECD teachers paid by the State beginning 2010. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, it was not possible to factor in that aspect of the payment of the ECD teachers. However, during this financial year, it is the intention of the Ministry of Education to start paying the ECD teachers throughout the country to ensure that our children get the best education right from the beginning as they start their education. As has been alluded to by Members here, unless we can give opportunities to our people without discriminating against the poor, then we will be missing out on very able people who could turn out to be our future professors. It is true that a good education system has a trickle-down effect on the economy as has been alluded to by hon. Kioni. If we educate our people, they will know how best to take care of their health, do their business and practice agriculture. So, to provide education for our people is a major input for our economy. It is my humble request to the Members that at any given time, whereas this is basically a service sector, it should be seen as an economic input for our country. Hon. Kioni mentioned about infant mortality. If we have to cut down on infant mortality, we have to make sure that our mothers and fathers get education. It is very easy to tell the difference between a homestead where people are educated from one where the people are not educated. It is my humble submission that, as a Ministry of Education, we wholly support the idea that we need to review the capitation upwards. As we know, it cannot be downwards considering the fact that the cost of living is going up. It has to be upwards. I would like the Members to appreciate that it cannot be done purely by saying double, triple or quadruple it because it could even be more. It could be less, it could be more. It should be informed by certain factual information. We are doing that through the taskforce, so that we can justify what figure it should be. We need to definitely review this because the cost of living has gone up. Probably, through the taskforce, we need to have a system where the reviewing does not wait until a Motion is brought by hon. Chanzu to Parliament. There should be an automatic system to tally with the inflationary trends in the country. If the cost goes up, our capitation should also go up. So, we are in agreement. With those remarks, I beg to support the Motion in principle. I cannot say that it should be certain figures, but we definitely need to review it."
}