By Roy Hezron
Inasmuch as Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers, currently referred to as pre-primary teachers, have received a boost in their salaries and allowances owing to the decision by the Council of Governors to implement the long awaited Scheme of Service, the same teachers have raised concern whether all counties will fully implement the aspect of promotion to higher grades.
The new scheme has not captured the salaries and allowances of the teachers upon promotion.
However, the Scheme provided a bridging mechanism for ECDE teachers currently serving in public ECDE centres either in the employment of County Governments or the community who do not meet the minimum entry requirement as per the Scheme of Service
The recently proposed salaries and allowances for the teachers only captured the entry Grades for the teachers which as per the Scheme of Service are: Assistant ECDE Teacher III at Job Group F for Certificate holders, ECDE Teacher III at Job Group H for Diploma holders and Graduate ECDE Teacher III at Job Group K for Degree holders.
Entry Grades
The teachers will now be required to be registered by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), have a certificate in Computer applications, Good Conduct from the National Police Service and valid medical report from a recognized government health facility.
Serving ECDE teachers in public ECDE centres in the Counties who are in possession of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Mean Grade of D- (minus) , a Certificate in ECDE from the Ministry of Education or Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), who have been registered by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and have been serving for a period of three (3) years by the commencement of the Scheme of Service are eligible for appointment as Assistant ECDE Teacher III, at Job Group ‘F’ with a basic monthly salary of Sh 16,250.
However, new entrants to this grade must prescribe to the set minimum requirements for the grade. For future advancement, a candidate must meet the prescribed minimum requirements of the grade.
The direct appointment will require a candidate to be possession of KCSE minimum grade D+ (Plus) or KCE division IV at ‘O’ Level, Certificate in Early Childhood Development Education offered by KNEC/Ministry of Education or its approved equivalent and be registered by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
In addition, the candidate should also hold a Certificate in Computer Applications, Certificate of Good Conduct from the National Police Service and valid medical report from a registered government health facility.
Those with KCSE minimum grade of C (Plain) from KNEC or its recognized equivalent with Certificate in ECDE are supposed to be appointed directly as Assistant ECDE Teacher II, Job Group ‘G’ which hasn’t been mentioned in the recently proposed salary structure hasn’t mentioned hence the assumption that it has been converted to Job Group F.
The duties and responsibilities of this cadre of teachers will be class teaching, role modeling, guidance and counseling, mentoring and motivation of the learners, preparing reports, ensuring the safety and security of the learners, assisting in organizing and facilitating play/learning activities for the learners, caring and nurturing the spiritual, moral, social, mental, physical, aesthetic and emotional growth of the learners, managing ECDE classes and keeping professional and administrative records (schemes of work, lesson plans, daily programme of activities, attendance registers among others), ensuring learners’ safety and security and preparing and developing play/learning materials.
Those with KCSE minimum grade of C (Plain) or its approved equivalent, or with KCSE minimum grade of D+ (plus) or its approved equivalent plus Certificate in Early Childhood Development and Education offered by KNEC or MoE or its approved equivalent, Diploma in Early Childhood Development and Education offered by KNEC or its approved equivalent will be promoted to ECDE Teacher III Job Group ‘H’ with a basic salary of Sh 27,195 per month.
Teachers with KCSE minimum grade of C+ (Plus); or KCSE minimum grade C (Plain) plus Diploma in Early Childhood Development and Education offered by KNEC or its approved equivalent, or KCSE minimum grade D+ (plus) and Certificate in ECDE plus Diploma in ECDE or Degree in ECDE offered by a recognized institution of higher learning will be promoted to Graduate ECDE Teacher III Job Group ‘K’ with a basic salary of Sh 33,994 per month.
Apart from teaching and facilitating learning, this cadre of teachers will conduct research on ECDE, participate in stakeholder engagements in the ECDE sector, mobilize and sensitize communities on the need for ECDE and assist in the implementation of the ECDE policy.
Teachers in all the other grades will be promoted once they have served in the previous grade for at least 3 years.
Promotional Grades
The promotional Grades for Certificate holders are Assistant ECDE Teacher II (Job Group G), Assistant ECDE Teacher I (Job Group H), Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher III (Job Group J), Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II (Job Group K) and Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher I (Job Group L).
For Diploma holders, the promotional Grades will be ECDE Teacher II (Job Group J), ECDE Teacher I (Job Group K), Senior ECDE Teacher III (Job Group L), Senior ECDE Teacher II (Job Group M) and Senior ECDE Teacher I (Job Group N).
The promotional Grades for Degree holders are Graduate ECDE Teacher II (Job Group L), Graduate ECDE Teacher I (Job Group M), Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher II (Job Group N), Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher I/ Assistant Director (Job Group P), Senior Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher/ Deputy Director (Job Group Q) and Chief Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher/ Director (Job Group R) which is the highest Grade within the ECDE rank as per the approved scheme.
