Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 991278,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/991278/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 124,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(v) Role of stakeholders such as teachers, learners, principals and parents. I have an attached list of a total of 1,295 responses that were analysed. On the Question by Hon. Martin Peters Owino, the response is like what I had indicated in one Question that was asked by Hon. Njomo and Hon. Washiali. That one is adequately covered. I will read the one concerning hygiene. The rest were well covered. What preparedness and precautionary measures has the Ministry undertaken to ensure that the Government policy and directives on hygiene and social distancing by schools will be observed and adhered to the letter when they reopen in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic? The Ministry will continue to engage with the National Task Force on COVID-19 and other Government agencies from time to time on policy direction and on interventions for prevention against COVID-19 to ensure that policies on hygiene and social distancing by schools are observed and adhered to when schools reopen. There is also an issue on commodities. What steps has the Ministry taken to ensure that essential commodities are available and will be distributed to all schools? As indicated in the response above, the Ministry will engage the relevant Government agencies and national committee on COVID-19 in ensuring strict adherence to the guidelines issued with a view to facilitating the availability of essential commodities in schools. It will include learning materials and food stuffs of which some are currently stored in stores at sub- counties. What measures have been put in place to ensure that fumigation and sanitation of schools that were identified and used as quarantine centres are done thoroughly before reopening? The Ministry will liaise closely with the national committee on COVID-19 and the Ministry of Health with a view to benefiting from its expertise and guidance in fumigating and sanitising the schools that were identified and used as quarantine centres before reopening. Will the Government consider waiving payment of tuition and exam fees to the needy students who cannot afford considering that the income of many parents has been diminished by the effects of COVID-19? At the moment, the Government does not charge both tuition and examination fees for KCSE and KCPE candidates. The tuition fees is paid by the Government in all public primary and secondary schools. In addition, the examination fees is fully paid by the Government for candidates in both private and public schools. Does the Ministry have a plan to engage counsellors to provide guidance and emotional support systems considering that COVID-19 is shrouded by fear and stigma? At the moment, the Ministry has no plans to engage counsellors to provide guidance and emotional support system for learners. This is mainly due to various constraints including unavailability of budgetary allocation for the recruitment of such specialists. However, the Ministry will continue working closely with a multi-agency team on COVID-19 with a view to ensure that learners are accorded all the necessary support that they may require when schools reopen. Those are the three responses for the Members. The Cabinet Secretary has indicated that tomorrow he will appear before the Committee. If we will have a venue, Hon. Members are invited, so that they can discuss many of these issues. Thank you."
}