- ECDE teachers in Nyamira County have paralysed learning for three weeks, demanding implementation of the SRC-recommended salary structure.
- The teachers have accused the county government of ignoring previous petitions and return-to-work agreements, citing delayed salaries, lack of medical cover and exploitative contract terms.
Learning in public Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across Nyamira County has been paralysed for three weeks after ECDE teachers downed tools to demand implementation of the salary structure recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The teachers, who staged peaceful demonstrations in Nyamira town, say they are earning far below the SRC-recommended rates despite handling the crucial foundational stage of education. Led by their chairman Moses Casmir, the tutors accused the County Government of Nyamira of ignoring several petitions and return-to-work formulas agreed upon in previous meetings. “We have been patient for too long. The SRC gave clear guidelines on our pay, but the county has refused to implement them. We will not go back to class until our demands are met,” Casmir said.
Apart from the low pay, the teachers listed other grievances, including lack of permanent and pensionable employment terms, delayed monthly salaries, lack of medical cover and NHIF remittance, no promotions for years, understaffing in most ECDE centres, and lack of teaching and learning materials. They also decried poor working conditions, saying most ECDE classrooms are in a deplorable state without proper desks, toilets or playing grounds for the young learners.
The teachers further demanded that the county government stop employing ECDE teachers on a contract basis, saying the move degrades them by the very government that is supposed to respect them. “The contract system is exploitative and disrespectful. We do the same work as other teachers but we are treated like casual labourers by our own government,” Casmir added.
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The strike has elicited mixed reactions from parents. Some termed it illegal, arguing that the teachers did not follow due process and that courts had not sanctioned the industrial action, though even those who questioned its legality said they sympathise with the teachers because their demands are genuine. Other parents fully supported the tutors, saying the teachers are right to fight for their rights, but noted that by downing tools they have indirectly punished innocent pupils who are now idle at home.
Downing tools has become a common form of protest for ECDE teachers whenever they feel aggrieved. Under the Labour Relations Act, teachers, like other employees, have a right to strike if negotiations fail, but only after issuing a 21-day strike notice, engaging in conciliation and obtaining approval from their union. In Nyamira, teachers say they have exhausted all dialogue channels, hence the decision to stay away from classrooms.
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Education stakeholders now fear that prolonged strikes will further weaken the already fragile foundation of early learning, with learners losing interest and some parents transferring their children to private academies. They are now appealing to Governor Amos Nyaribo to intervene urgently and resolve the standoff to allow learning to resume.
Efforts to reach the County Executive Member for Education, Dr Emily Ongaga, for comment were futile by press time.
By Enock Okong’o
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