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{
    "id": 561744,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/561744/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 502,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "June 24th, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 41 Sen (Dr.) Zani",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to move that the County Early Childhood Education Bill (Senate Bill No.32 of 2014) be read a Second Time. With the onset of devolution, various services have now been pushed down to the county level and the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution clearly puts the realm of pre- primary education into the counties. There are various terminologies that people use but most of the time when people refer to pre-primary education, they are talking about an education for a child who is about three to six years old. Sometimes this is the same concept that is also referred to as Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE). Village polytechnics, home crafts centres and also child care facilities have also been devolved and are a responsibility of county governments. The interesting thing is that as a result of this and especially for us in the Committee on Education, it became necessary to delve into matters education, especially at the level of three to six years. A lot of work has gone into this Bill in terms of conceptualizing it altogether. Let me summarise the thoughts of the Committee as they thought about the process that will put into place structures for a three to six year old child. First, in most areas in education matters, many people tend to stress on university and secondary education. However, the foundation of a child is actually at early childhood education so that this child is exposed to an education that is friendly, motivating and encouraging. In the long run, the child can pick up and begin to enjoy their educational experience. That has not been the case in many areas and you find children loathing education. Some educational centres start by giving children such hardcore material even as they begin. You will find the children crying because they have to go to school. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the notion of the ECDE level is a notion of an education that should be enjoyable so that this child can go to school and enjoy the experience. We are talking about the best model classroom that will be created so that the child can go into it and enjoy themselves. They will have stools that are at their level, a secure environment that they can enjoy, management that understands them and material that has been put in such a way that they can enjoy their educational experience. In many cases, especially in the realm where there has not been control in terms of early childhood education, we find people even starting schools in a house. This is done without some sort of structure, coordination, management or even a standard about what really constitutes an educational centre. This Bill generally starts by setting out specific objectives. The overview is to ensure that this level of education is well managed. The understanding is that if it is not well managed at this particular point, then we are creating a situation for a child who will not do their best. Indeed, in many developed countries, they have reached a point where the focus now is not on university education any more, but on ECDE because this is the critical point. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill provides a framework for the establishment of a comprehensive ECDE, putting into place all the critical issues to ensure that this level of education is well managed. It also seeks to provide and establish infrastructure necessary 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."
}