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{
    "id": 944585,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/944585/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Pursuant to Standing Order 44(2)(c), I wish to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research on the funding of Special Needs Education (SNE) in the country. Hon. Speaker, the number of primary boarding institutions offering special education as per the Government’s standards has increased from 243 in 2016 to 339 in 2019, with the total enrolment likewise increasing from 26,900 to 39,629 learners during the same period. For secondary schools, the number of institutions has increased from 106 to 114 with enrolment increasing from 4,019 to 5,500 learners. Hon. Speaker, it is of great concern that despite this increment in facilities and enrolment, the Government’s capitation grant for SNE primary boarding, special and integrated schools and units has remained at a constant figure of Kshs455 million which, in essence, means that the allocation per learner has reduced from Kshs16,914 in 2016 to Kshs11,481 in 2019. On its part, the secondary schools’ allocation has remained at a constant figure of Kshs200 million which technically implies a reduction per learner from Kshs49,763 to Kshs35,730. Hon. Speaker, the purpose of SNE grants is to subsidise boarding expenses in view of the fact that most special needs learners attend boarding schools on account of them having requisite human recourses and facilities, and not by choice, to meet remuneration costs of critical auxiliary staff such as transcribers, sign language interpreters, therapists and house parents, as well as procurement of specialised learning resources such as Braille and other assistive devices. Hon. Speaker, the allocation to the special needs sub-sector has received in the recent past has been too inadequate to meet the aforementioned needs of institutions that offer special needs education, and most SNE schools are currently facing financial crisis exemplified by unpaid remuneration for non-teaching staff as well as pending bills owed to suppliers. Hon. Speaker, it is on account of these ongoing challenges occasioned by underfunding of Special Needs Education that I seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research on the following: (i) What short and long-term measures are being pursued by the Government in allocating sufficient funding to the Special Needs Education sub-sector? (ii) Is the Ministry of Education in possession of updated data on Special Needs Education that places the optimal allocation for SNE learners in primary boarding and secondary schools at Kshs30,000 and Kshs57,000 per annum, respectively?"
}