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{
    "id": 88181,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/88181/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 310,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Mwatela",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 103,
        "legal_name": "Andrew Calist Mwatela",
        "slug": "andrew-mwatela"
    },
    "content": " Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, thank you for that correction. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I stand here to vehemently support this Motion. I have whispered with my colleague from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology that this is one of the best Motions that have ever come to this House. The system of funding education in our country has helped to perpetuate inequalities rather than encourage students who are able from all walks of life to acquire education. You will notice that a student who gets a C+ from a rural school in essence, has the same capabilities mentally with a student that gets an A in some of the so-called top schools in towns. It is my recommendation that as the Government, we do all that is within our ambit to ensure that all the students who meet the qualifications to go to universities get funded and access university education. I would like to say that, in the past, university education was for the selected few and the rich. It was the rich man’s child who went to the best school and, therefore, got the best grades in the KCPE. He or she accessed the best secondary school and ended up with the best KCSE grade. He or she would then end up at the university through the Joint Admissions Board and end up accessing money from HELB automatically. We need to change that so that all the students who meet the minimum grade of C+, which is the minimum grade to access the universities, get the funding. They will then pursue the courses which they are qualified for. The need to improve our transition rate right from primary schools to secondary schools cannot be over-emphasized. I would like to thank hon. Khalwale for pointing out that, indeed, our transition rate is very low. Only 2 per cent of those who join primary schools end up in universities. That is a shame to this country. In order to achieve the intentions of Vision 2030, we definitely need to change that as a matter of urgency. I will ask the relevant Ministry to ensure that this Motion is supported so that we can get extra funding. I am sure that this House will approve extra funding and we will fund not only students who attend local universities, but also those who attend universities in neighbouring States as well as abroad. If they can get access to those universities, they should be funded. I beg to support."
}