- Hundreds of ECDE teachers in Nandi County staged demonstrations in Kapsabet, disrupting learning in several centres.
- The teachers are demanding improved salaries, proper job grading and implementation of a Scheme of Service.
- Protesters say years of consultations have failed to produce meaningful action on their grievances.
By Adrian Biwott
Hundreds of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers in Nandi County on Tuesday staged demonstrations in Kapsabet town, bringing learning activities to a halt as they demanded the immediate implementation of long-promised reforms on salaries, job grading and career progression.
The teachers, who left their classrooms and marched through the streets carrying placards and chanting slogans, said they had exhausted all avenues of dialogue and could no longer tolerate what they described as years of broken promises and delayed action by county authorities.
Key Demands
According to the protesting teachers, their demands are straightforward and have remained unresolved despite numerous meetings and commitments.
They are calling for improved remuneration, proper job grading and the implementation of a comprehensive Scheme of Service in line with recommendations by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Frustration Over Delayed Action
The demonstrations followed what teachers termed a series of unsuccessful consultations that have failed to produce tangible results.
They accused county leaders and stakeholders of engaging in endless discussions while their concerns continued to be ignored.
“The problem is known and the solutions are known. What remains is implementation,” one teacher said during the protest.
Impact on Learning
The educators argued that ECDE teachers play a critical role in laying the foundation for children’s education and deserve fair treatment, competitive salaries and clear career progression structures.
They maintained that their grievances are not new and that authorities have had sufficient time to address them.
As the protests intensified, learning in several ECDE centres across the county was disrupted, raising concerns about the impact on young learners.
The teachers, however, insisted that responsibility for the disruption lies with those who have failed to honour previous commitments.
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The demonstrations have now placed the Nandi County administration under growing pressure to respond decisively to the teachers’ demands and address the long-standing issues affecting the ECDE workforce.
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