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{
    "id": 698281,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/698281/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 148,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. I support the Bill, which is long overdue. It is important that the Senate has eventually brought it up. The Bill addresses the most fundamental area of human development, in line with the constitutional right of the child. This afternoon, we passed the Sessional Paper on the National Children Policy and the Sessional Paper on the National Policy on Elimination of Child Labour. All these are related to early childhood education. Early childhood education is not simply education, but it also relates to the development of the child. The proper title of the Bill should be; “Early Childhood Education and Development Bill”. Between the ages of three and six years, there is still a lot more to do with the mental and physical development of a child and, in fact, even to the health of a child. Many health programmes for children still go on at this stage. Even immunisation is still part of child health at this stage. Therefore, it is important that we look at it in a broader sense. It is also at this stage that the special needs of children are identified. Many times, some children do not perform well in school and it is not clear why they are not performing. Some may have visual difficulties, hearing difficulties or development difficulties like short attention span or autism. It is at this stage that we can identify such problems and stream the children in the right areas. That way, we will support their needs so that they get full development and take advantage of the education facilities available. Even at the stage of three years, the nutrition of a child is extremely important. Perhaps, we may not be aware, but definitely, it is a national policy that the nutrition of children should be taken care of. From birth up to five years, if children are not properly nourished, definitely, their mental and brain development will be affected and they will be retarded. If nothing is done, they may never recover after the age of five years. Therefore, to have children in institutions at this time gives us the opportunity to also address the issue of nutrition and child development. It is also at this stage that we can detect problems of child abuse. By the time children who have been exposed to child abuse go to primary schools, the damage is sometimes long- lasting. Even character development can be better managed at this stage. Therefore, it is important for us to have a Bill that addresses this area, which has had lack of policy, standards and structures to the extent that there has been mushrooming of tin shack structures. Anything is going by the name of early childhood educational centres. It is important that we have a Bill which also addresses the devolved nature of this function. This Bill is extremely necessary. Under the Objects, particularly in Clause 3, I am happy it provides for partnership between the national Government and the county governments. That is extremely important because when you get to basic education, which is a function of the national Government, you will not get much if the early childhood education, which is under the county governments, was not properly addressed. Clause 4 provides the guiding principles for early childhood education and development. It takes into consideration the right to education and the proper environment for education. It 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."
}