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    "id": 562289,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/562289/?format=api",
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    "content": "not diminish; they should be encouraged as they complement the role of the Government. The county governments should step in, where churches are limited in resources, for instance, in providing qualified teachers. We should not have a situation where we limit the county governments to only those institutions which are deemed to be public in the sense of being owned by the Government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, what this Bill pleases me with, is that it is touching on all pertinent issues concerning education in such institutions. It has talked very much about the need to standardize the curriculum to ensure that there are no tests at the end of the day. In some schools, even before the child is admitted to ECDE, they have to undergo some interviews which is really torturous because the child is young, not fully developed and its ability cannot be assessed. Some children develop faster depending on the environment. This Bill also seeks to standardize facilities to ensure that every institution that seeks to offer education to tender age children have proper facilities. The teachers should have proper qualification so that there is sound management. As the situation is now, the facilities in most ECDE classes, which we call nursery schools in most counties, are poor. In a primary school, the worst class that you will find is the nursery school. If the other classes are cemented on the floor, the ECDE class is full of dust. This is where children at an early age are. They are developing their feet and yet they are attacked by jiggers. The quality of teachers in these institutions leaves a lot to be desired because most of them have just left school and have no training at all. I believe that when the standardization comes with this Bill, there will be well trained teachers to take care of these children not only in the manner of education but even looking at their welfare. The previous speaker, the Senator for Homa Bay, said that it is more than teaching; it is how you handle the children when they soil themselves. There are other issues that are equally important. This Bill seeks to make it compulsory for all parents to put their children through the ECDE classes. We are all aware that not every village has these facilities. Instead of hammering and trying to force parents to take the children to school - I believe in this age and time, most parents love their children and they would like them to get proper education – we should try to make the facilities attractable enough for parents to voluntarily take their children to these ECDE centres. The issue that comes to my mind is proper buildings that have a proper environment. Previously, and even now, I have seen some ECDE classes in counties which are deemed to be complete but have no glasses on the windows. This exposes the children to adverse weather. Some classrooms do not have ceiling boards to ensure that children stay in a warm place. A child of three years cannot concentrate in a classroom or play outside for more than certain hours. There must come a time where they want to doze off. Facilities should be provided for them to sleep and take a nap. Currently, most classes do not have these facilities. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, sanitation facilities including toilets and water should be standardized. Every ECDE centre must have water for the children to drink or clean themselves when necessary. In fact, most primary schools, even those that are built"
}