Dr. Valerian Kilemi Mwiria

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 461 to 470 of 862.

• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I understand that students have been traumatised. But we are advising counselling, as is the case with other victims of those clashes. I want hon. Members to appreciate the fact that, it is difficult to keep on shifting admission criteria on the basis August 8, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3019 of insecurity, which is often a temporary thing. Unless we show some areas as being permanently insecure and ask the Joint Admissions Board to consider students from those areas for admission on lower points, that is the only way out. But I also want to point out ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you cannot raid a police station with a gun. Therefore, they could not have been trigger happy. I am talking about politicians in this august House. There are some "small" politicians who are used by "big" politicians to cause problems. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, yes, indeed, there is a shortage of teachers. However, that is a national problem. It is not only specific to those areas affected by insecurity, except that in those areas, they have double problems in that they have shortage of teachers and at the same time, they have insecurity. I think we ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you know we have been considering putting up boarding schools in areas which are seriously disadvantaged, especially in North Eastern Kenya and parts of Rift Valley Province. We will continue to consider more schools to fall under this category. However, if there is insecurity, the children will still move out of those schools. So, we have to find a solution to insecurity in those areas. Even if we put up boarding schools and there is insecurity, the teachers and students will not have an environment where they would feel comfortable to go on with their studies. ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, first, we have recommended that while the insecurity is still in existence, the students be relocated to safer areas. Some of them have already been relocated to other schools. Secondly, we have advised the teachers to take remedial measures, as of now, until security has been restored to ensure that the syllabus is covered. There is a limit of how much we can do. However, that has already been recommended. More importantly, the Government is trying its level best to make sure that security is guaranteed in those areas. As to 3020 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 8, ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the matter of making examinations less biased in favour of elite schools, urban centres, among others, has been one of the discussions that have lasted over 20 years. Let me assure this House that they are putting a lot of efforts to reform. The examinations we see these days use examples from rural, urban and pastoral areas, if you look at those papers closely--- So, an effort has been made to make examinations much more comprehensive in terms of coverage and to ensure that they do not reflect the bias of those who are advantaged like ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to speak in favour of this Motion. First, I would like to appreciate the developments that have taken place in the area of secondary school education in the last few years. Transition rates from primary to secondary school education have increased from 45 per cent to 46 per cent in 2003 to 60 per cent in 2006. We are getting closer to our target of 70 per cent which we hope to achieve in the next three years. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion will address the problem facing ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let us also not forget the fact that the private primary school education is very much advantaged, in terms of the resources that are available to a lot of individuals who comprise that small percentage of those who are privileged in this country, that send their children to those schools. We can, therefore, ask some of them to also supplement the public sector where the majority of the other children are going. It is also in their interest to ensure that if they can pay so much for their own children in private academies and ... view
• 8 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think Mr. Wamwere was about to say that he likes that idea of Members of Parliament contributing to this levy as away of leading by example. I would like to support the point you made that much of what has to take place has to do so outside the context of schools. We need to empower our populations by ensuring that we diversify education so that it is not just the formal system of education that is there, even in areas where it does not fit the most. More important, we should ensure that ... view
• 2 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) The Government has waived secondary school tuition fees with effect from January, 2008, to the tune of Kshs4.3 billion in the whole country. The tuition fees waiver will target all students attending public secondary schools with each student receiving Kshs3,600 per annum. (b) The tuition fees waiver will not interfere with the secondary school bursary scheme. In essence, the tuition fee waiver is a complementary effort to the bursary scheme, so as to realise an affordable secondary education. (c) In recognition of the expected increase in students enrolment due to this ... view
• 2 Aug 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we anticipated the expansion even before the declaration of the free secondary school education. During the last one year, we have been talking a great deal about how we are encouraging the expansion of the existing streams. That has already been taking place in most parts of the country. There are many day secondary schools which have also come up. I am surprised that no new schools have been built in Nyakach, while the hon. Member is a great believer in education. That has been recommended, but it is with the support of the various persons ... view