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{
    "id": 698282,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/698282/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 149,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "recognises the role of parents. That is extremely important. It also recognises that the policies or programmes that we put in place must be evidence-based. Clause 6 goes further to enforce the right to education by providing free and compulsory education. This means that county governments have to put aside an adequate amount of money to provide for infrastructure and other requirements. We cannot put punitive measures to parents while county governments are not able to provide what is needed. Therefore, we need more ECDE centres and if a child does not go to school, then the parents will be taken to task and punished. That is important and we will be forced by the law that we have put in place. In Part III, the Bill has really been thought out. It sets out the registration criteria for the ECDE centres. It gives clear definition of the kind of structures we require. This is extremely important so that it is harmonised across the country. It gives classification whether you are dealing with public or private centres. It also gives provision for the role of sponsors who can support this. I find it appropriate that it also gives clear guidelines on the management, creation of boards, composition and functions of these boards and the roles of parents and teachers. It forces institutions to give annual reports and keep records. Nothing could be more important if you are running a system of regular reporting. The Bill gives processes for accreditation and registration and even deregistration where necessary. Having put this infrastructure in place, it further provides for administrative requirements like training of teachers. What has been happening is that anybody with “O” level education is picked upon to teach children at the age of three to six years. Incidentally, this is the age where you need most qualified people to look after the children and take care of their education. At this stage, it is not just about the academic education of the children, but also the health and mental development of the children. Teachers at this early childhood stage will pick early signs of improper development such as physical or mental illnesses that can occur. Therefore, these teachers need to be trained and I think that is provided for in this proposed law. The administration provides for the grouping of children. It is at this stage that you will find out if the children have special needs and, therefore, stream them accordingly or put them in a mixed curriculum. It provides for the development of curriculum and we cannot over- emphasise that. Where we have a devolved function, it is important that we have an overarching Bill like this one that will ensure that what is undertaken is similar across all the counties. This Bill is important because it provides for a feeding programme. As I said earlier, this may be probably the most important aspect. If all children around the age of three years get proper nutrition in school, we are assured of better performance. The Bill also provides for quality assurance, which should be observed in all the counties. This provision is important because it will ensure that there is quality education and adherence to policy and standards. It provides for the safety of children, so that we do not have children in tin shacks, grass thatched houses or muddy buildings that could affect their health. With those remarks, I support this Bill."
}