Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) National Chairman Mr. Lawrence Otunga has urged Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga to shelf her plan to slash ECDE teachers’ salaries.
He noted that Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers should be accorded the respect they deserve because their role in molding children’s foundation in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) was crucial.
“The ECDE teachers are the least underpaid, least respected yet the most overworked. These teachers also need to lead decent lives, they have to be paid well and nobody has the express authority to revise pay of any worker downwards. If their pay can’t be adjusted upwards, let the governor leave the pay where she found it,” he charged.
Speaking during the retirement party of renowned teacher Madam Eucabeth Kaudo at her home in Kamae village, Otunga congratulated Mrs. Kaudo for her service spanning 33 years, saying that the celebration was a challenge to employers who fail to celebrate their employees.
The celebration, organized by her children, brought together their mother’s old pupils, their own friends, Early Years Education (EYE) teachers, the school community and guests of diverse social standing to celebrate her three decades of persistence, sacrifice and resilience in service.
Mrs. Kaudo, a mother of eight, joined Miyuga Primary School as a volunteer ECDE teacher in 1990 and was privileged enough to nurture both boys and girls from diverse backgrounds in the community.
She began her volunteer journey shortly after Homa Hills Organization granted her an opportunity to join Kitale Diocese for Specialized Training in Early Childhood Development and Education.
For thirty-three years, she pushed through life amidst meagre pay that was irregular and unpredictable.
In the opinion of her children, 33 years is not just a number – it was a product of tolerance, sacrifice and hard work.
“My mother’s 33 years in serving the community as a volunteer ECDE teacher was never in vain,” her daughter Emma who is a dietician said during the party.
According to the family, it was painful that their mother would just quit her passion and fail to appreciate her years of uninterrupted service.
Since it was taking too long for the school where she worked to celebrate her, the family came up with an elaborate plan to appreciate their mother for being true to her service.
“My mother taught me in ECDE and I didn’t know what she earned as a salary until I was elected the Board of Management (BoM) Chairman at the same school almost 26 years later. I was shocked to learn it was Ksh 3,000,” said her fourth child, Isdore Kaudo.
Despite the meagre salary, she neither lost hope nor looked back. She focused on educating her pupils and children. This in essence paid off since today all her eight children are graduates in different fields.
Attendants presented gifts and cash in recognition of her good work. The gifts included clothes, kitchen wares, furniture and other household items.
Her children awarded her a retirement package of Ksh 100,000 together with a 10,000-litre water tank and their father also received a package of Ksh 100, 000.
“As a family, we know our parents deserve better but this is the beginning of how to appreciate excellence in service,” said the family’s organizer and political scientist, Philip Kaudo.
The old pupils lauded Mrs. Kaudo’s crucial role in community transformation hence influencing their resolve to celebrate her.
“Today, I celebrate my teacher and I am happy because she nurtured me. It is true good work never goes unrewarded. Today, we appreciate her role in shaping us,” said Wycliffe Owino, a civil engineer.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included; KNUT Rachuonyo branch Executive Secretary Eliud Ombori, Advisor to the governor on Education Patrick Were, KEFRI Turkana Assistant Regional Director Patrick Mwenja, Wang’chieng Ward Supervisor Mr. Ogombo who represented Rachuonyo North sub-county EYE Director, Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) officials and Miyuga Secondary School principal Mr. Ondoro.
By Steve Misori
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