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{
    "id": 902320,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/902320/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to add my voice to this particular Statement. I commend Sen. Pareno for bringing the Statement, because this is a countrywide matter. The issue of the CBC has been debated many times. Now that 58 teachers were interdicted in the sub county, that is something of great concern that we as a Senate need to seriously interrogate whether there was any need for them to be interdicted. There is no rationale interdicting the 58 teachers because it has a direct impact not only on the learners but also on the teachers‘ performance. It also has psycho-social impact that is not positive. From the Statement, teachers who were on sick leave and maternity leave were also interdicted. That means that they were not given audience or time to air their views. From the Statement, right now, 22 schools have no headteachers. A headteacher has an important role to play in a school. If 22 headteachers were arrested, it means that there are 22 schools without headteachers, thus the schools do not know where to head or the direction to take. It is unthinkable for a school to be without a headteacher because a deputy cannot play the role of a headteacher. The issue of divergent opinion should not warrant an interdiction. If people have divergent opinions, it is good for the opinions to be brought on board and see whether they hold water or not. Instilling fear for purposes of effecting a policy or a programme cannot work. When people work in fear, matters cannot go very well. So, it is illogical, not sustainable and well-thought out. This is an issue that the Committee on Education, Information, Communication and Technology, where I sit, should interrogate with speed. The head at the TSC should come here and tell us why those teachers were interdicted. Mr. Temporary Speaker, change should be accepted by people. It should also be people-driven and owned by people. If change is not owned by people but instead forced through their throats, it can never work. So, there is need for us to intervene as a Senate and see how we can resolve the issue. Of course, there were teething problems even when the 8-4-4 system was started. Even though there were problems, they were eventually ironed out. There was consensus and things went on well. It is true that the CBC is being rolled out; a system is being put in place, but we have to really interrogate and see if the system is for the better or worse. There is need for the Ministry and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to accept divergent views. As we talk of this interdiction, there were teachers who were also arraigned in court. There is need for this Statement to go to the Committee on Education, Information and Communication Technology, for it to seriously intervene for the sake of our children in this country. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}