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{
    "id": 594968,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/594968/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "lives. I want to repeat that children are not poor. There are no children who are poor. Every child has a right to education and tomorrow that child will improve him or herself and the family at large. Education is an equalizer; it gives everybody a chance to live a better life. When anyone, teachers or whoever, gives themselves reasons that because somebody has not paid the fees, they have a right to hold their certificates, they are playing God; they do not have a right to hold any one’s certificate. They are going against the Constitution. If they have an issue of payment or money to run their schools, if that is the argument, then they should deal with the Government. They should say you have directed us to give these certificates then how do we run the school? We all know that the schools receive grants, through the CDF. I have evidence when I was the Member of Parliament for Dagoretti, we supported many children and schools. This is an excuse teachers give for not releasing certificates and God knows why they want to have that money in their hands. My challenge is really to the schools and the unions. When the unions fight for the welfare of teachers, they should also take the welfare of students into account because those students are the ones who give teachers a job. Without children to be educated, even the unions will not have all that power they exercise when it comes to the welfare of teachers. They have a right to look at the welfare of teachers, but it cannot be the welfare of teachers and schools at the expense of children, and going against the Constitution. Madam Temporary Speaker, I do not think the children in one single school, who are not able to pay for the fees and most of it is subsidized by Government, will make that school not to run. If those certificates are in the boxes, they are not receiving any money. How comes they continue to run the school? It is really punishing the children; they do not close the school. I would like to assure the parents, especially the needy families, and those whose certificates have been held for a long time, that directives were issued. Therefore, there is no reason as to why those certificates should not be released. Madam Temporary Speaker, if the Government provides free education and waives examination fees, then what is the point of holding those certificates? The argument which some of the teachers gave is that if they allow certificates to be released, then more and more parents will now default. This was not proved. Everybody knows which families are capable of paying and which families cannot. I want to urge that Members of the National Assembly to use some of the CDF money to have these certificate released as soon as possible. The tribunal we envisage to create will stand for the under privileged people who have suffered for reasons which are not of their own. The head teachers are frustrating the efforts of the Government to give education to the citizens of this country. I assure Sen. Musila, whatever it is that we have to do, some of us are ready to stand with you as we have stood all along and to make sure that every child in this country has his certificate. Article 55 of the Constitution requires the State to take measures and ensure that youth access relevant education, training and employment and that they are protected from harmful cultural practices and exploitation. When a girl child is not going to school the next thing she will do is to get pregnant or marry vey early, sometimes, get into prostitution because she wants to get a sugar-daddy to give her some money. When that child stays at home, you cannot sustain her for long. The same applies to boys. They will get stressed, start smoking bhang and get involved in all those harmful practices. Therefore, head teachers should do the honorable thing and release all those 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."
}