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{
    "id": 84934,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/84934/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 321,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, that is what I was coming to. When a directive is given, you cannot allow even those who are able to pay to go scot free. This only referred in as far as those vulnerable children who were not able to pay for their certificates to be redeemed. When this directive was given out, it was as if it was a general amnesty for everybody at that particular time. That, however, did not absolve the students, guardians and the parents from paying what is required of them. Do not forget that the school audit programme is required. You will be the first ones to query me in Parliament why certain resources were not collected from schools. Therefore, whereas in 2007 we may have given a direct directive to release those certificates to enable those students to proceed forward, it would not be a blanket directive to everybody. I have already stated towards the end of my Statement that I have asked the Provincial Directors of Education (PDEs) to deal with them on a case by case basis. At the same time, the education officers and PDEs will undertake the identification of needy students whose certificates have been withheld for their release. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am very clear. There is a distinction between those students who are not able and those who are able. That is why I have said that all the parents and students who are affected, on a case to case basis, should present their problems. If it is found that they are not able to pay the fees, then the general waiver stands in place. We cannot give a blanket waiver for everybody. Dr. Kones asked me to say which is which; I think by that explanation I have given, I have defined those who are eligible and the ineligible. The eligible are the ones who are vulnerable. I think I can pick that with the question by the Member for Lari; orphans and children with disability. That is why in the Ministry, there is a provision for bursaries. They go directly to vulnerable children. Members of Parliament are part of the Bursary Committee which disburses the resources to the very needy and vulnerable children. Therefore, this money is not for everybody. It is for the needy and vulnerable groups. I think we need to rationalize, within ourselves as Members of Parliament, when we receive these recourses that they should go directly to the needy students rather than going to those who are able to afford. Children with disabilities also fall under that category. I think that is it."
}