Kenya’s education system has made significant strides in recent years, with notable expansions in access to primary and secondary education and the introduction of reforms such as the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). These initiatives aim to move learning beyond rote memorization, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills among students. Programs promoting equity and inclusivity have opened doors for marginalized groups, girls, and learners with disabilities, while technology initiatives like the Digital Literacy Programme are equipping students with skills necessary to navigate a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
Despite these achievements, the foundation of education—Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE)—remains undervalued and underfunded with myriad challenges running from policy formulation to implementation of scheme of services which vary per county.
ECDE is not merely the beginning of formal schooling; it is the critical stage where children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development begins, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and the nation’s future.
The enablers of the success of the ECDE are teachers, who play a pivotal role in shaping young learners. They work tirelessly under challenging conditions, often earning low salaries, managing overcrowded classrooms, and teaching with limited resources or inadequate infrastructure. Beyond academic instruction, they act as caregivers, mentors, counselors, and advocates, frequently investing personal time, energy, and finances to ensure that children receive a quality early education.
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Their work goes far beyond the classroom: they help shape children’s social behaviors, nurture their curiosity, and instill the values and confidence that will serve them throughout life. Yet, despite their vital contribution, ECDE teachers are often overlooked, underpaid, and lack adequate professional recognition.
Even though, the national government in collaboration with the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), developed the ECDE Scheme of Service, the framework which is designed to professionalize early childhood educators by specifying qualifications, career progression, responsibilities, and benefits.
Few counties have already taken commendable steps to implement this framework. Kilifi County, for instance, has introduced a structured grading system with certificate holders earning Ksh 24,000, diploma holders Ksh 35,000, and degree holders Ksh 57,230 per month. Tana River County has adopted similar pay scales aligned with teacher qualifications, while Embu County provides certificate holders with Ksh 33,000 and diploma holders Ksh 37,000 per month.
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Turkana, Kajiado, and Bomet counties have also implemented the scheme, demonstrating leadership in professionalizing ECDE teachers and improving early education quality. Several other counties, including Homa Bay, Kwale, Narok, Murang’a, and Wajir, have agreed to implement the scheme, though progress varies based on local budgets and administrative capacity. In contrast, counties such as Meru and Machakos have yet to fully adopt the scheme, prompting legal and advocacy interventions to ensure teachers are fairly remunerated and recognized.
Lack of full implementation of the formulated ECDE Scheme of work, has affected the learning and demoralized teachers who are in dire need of salary. It is imperative that the ECDE Scheme of Service be fully and uniformly implemented across all counties. Doing so will provide ECDE teachers with the professional recognition, adequate remuneration, and career development opportunities they deserve. It will also standardize working conditions nationwide, reduce disparities between counties, and improve teacher motivation and retention. Most importantly, it will ensure that every child, regardless of socio-economic background or geographic location, has access to quality early childhood education that prepares them for primary school and beyond.
Investing in ECDE is an investment in Kenya’s future. Quality early education equips children with the cognitive, social, and emotional skills necessary to succeed academically and professionally, fosters creativity and problem-solving abilities, and builds the foundation for responsible and engaged citizenship. When ECDE teachers are supported through fair salaries, structured career paths, and professional development opportunities, they can fully dedicate themselves to nurturing the next generation of learners who will drive Kenya’s social and economic progress.
By Hillary Muhalya
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