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{
    "id": 697856,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/697856/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to attribute this to the failure by our subsequent national Governments, including the current one, to align global targets with national targets. We have heard of education for all targets, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and lately, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are global targets. It is important for any sensible Government to look at the priorities. During former President Kibaki’s era, we were about to finance our development targets by 80 per cent. We had gone as little as 20 per cent in financing our development priorities. It is important for any sensible Government to look at the priority areas. Education is a key priority area. If the country’s education system and manpower are developed, we will grow our economy. This is a sector that has not been seriously supported through the huge budgets that are given. The Government should not only provide education, but quality education. I was really impressed with the report because we are not only looking for education, but quality education. Three things that were picked in the report, including quality teaching delivered through a skilled human resource; an effective teacher who is able to deliver lessons effectively, so that the end product becomes a workforce that will benefit our country in the future. The other item which was picked from the conference is quality tools, including Information Communication Technology (ICT). I have criticized the idea of providing laptops to pupils in the past in this House. We should not spend billions to provide small equipment that will not support ICT. I support Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale in saying that it is better to invest in computer laboratories than in small tablets that pupils are being given. Having quality tools, quality teaching and learning environment are important. There are many schools where children learn under trees because there are no classrooms. Why provide laptops where children do not have classrooms? I note with great appreciation the items that are on page 9 of the report with regard to the three Ps; Performance, Pathways and Productivity. With regard to pathways, the 8-4-4 system of education has envisaged that we support technical education in the country. In an honest view, has the original intention of 8-4-4 system of providing technical education been achieved in the country? I want to appreciate that there are ongoing reforms with regard to our curriculum, but if we intend to produce an all-round student in terms of technical and vocational training, then we need to provide the requisite tools, materials and environment. I understand that the Ministry of Education was supporting every constituency by providing one technical training institution, but do they meet the international standards? We are not competing amongst ourselves; we want to compete globally and we are not able to do that effectively. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to focus on two or three other areas. We have had strikes in this country and a number of areas have been deserted by teachers because of insecurity. Even other areas that do not have insecurity problems have a shortage of teachers. This has not been addressed. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is the question of teacher remuneration which this global forum has picked. Teachers must be remunerated at per with other civil service cadres in terms of their qualifications; this has not happened. Recently I was in Saudi Arabia where an ordinary police officer is paid close to US$10,000. Why are we underpaying the people who are giving us education; the teachers especially? 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"
}