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{
    "id": 601615,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/601615/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Aden",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "pockets. There are very bright students but unfortunately they do not have the ability to continue with their education. This particular proposal will ensure that any Kenyan child who is bright will not be allowed to drop out of school because of lack of fees. The other very important thing I would like to talk concerning this Bill is the right for a child to be admitted to a school. Sometimes, children who do not obtain 250 marks in their final exam find themselves in a very difficult situation because they are not admitted to schools. The right to basic education is a fundamental right under our Constitution. For that reason, this Bill implements that right and ensures that from now on, any child who has been through his or her primary education gets an automatic admission to secondary school. The issue of reducing the number of representatives of the parents in the school management boards is okay. However, when it comes to the representatives of the parents, we should have an exception on the issue of educational qualifications. This applies to both primary and secondary schools. Sometimes you have very useful elders in the village. Some of them are former civil servants like chiefs who might not necessarily be educated, but they are very important persons to the society. Their sitting in school boards enriches them with advice and provides guidance. At the Third Reading of this Bill, we need to consider that and give exception to the representatives of the parents in terms of their educational qualifications. On the proposal on examinations, I just want to say that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) should not make Kenyans go through what we have been through lately. The last examination which ended a few weeks ago was very painful for both parents and students. This Bill should propose mechanisms and ways in which the KNEC should be forced not to act like they did this time. They blatantly refused to cancel the examinations or even change the papers when leakages were detected. They have that leeway. They can delay the examination of a particular subject and bring another substitute paper when leakages are detected. We need to do some justice to the KNEC with regard to the way they do their work. There is another important issue that this Bill touches on. I think this is the first time this is coming on. This is the issue of Madrasa education being integrated into the formal education system. For a very long time, those students who come from northern and coastal regions--- In our societies, when a child attains the age of six or seven years old, he or she is put through what Christians call Bible School for them to learn the Bible. While this is done in churches, within the Islamic society, they have a formalised curriculum which the child goes through. Sometimes, in the rural places, parents prefer to put their children into this system of education. The result is that that child aged seven and is supposed to be in Standard One, is still in that school. What this Bill now says is that a curriculum will be drawn. The drawing of a curriculum and integration will help because for a very long time, the Government has not understood what is being taught in Madrasa . A lot of misconception has been created about how these institutions are being used to radicalize or do a lot of other things. Integrating them and giving them approved curriculums and ensuring that the children while attending Madrasa can also get their formal education in nursery and Standard One is a step in the right direction. I welcome it. For the first time, Madrasas and Duksi are defined by the law. This is very important for us to understand as a nation. I will say something on school property. There is a mention here of the institutions and their land. There are many challenges in this country when it comes to the land owned by The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}