By Erick Nyayiera
The Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) has threatened to go to court in order to compel Siaya County Government to implement Early Childhood Development (ECD) schemes of services when hiring and remunerating teachers.
Speaking to Education News in Bondo, KUNOPPET National Chairperson Mr. Lawrence Otunga said Siaya County needs to hire ECD teachers on Permanent and Pensionable basis and also pay them based on their level of qualification as provided in the ECD schemes of service.
“The law clearly states that each ECDE teacher should be remunerated according to their level of education. Those with certificates, diplomas and degrees should get pay packages that match their qualifications. Sadly, this is not happening in Siaya” Otunga stated.
Currently ECD teachers in Siaya County are hired on contracts and are paid on a flat rate irrespective of level of education and qualification.
Otunga disclosed that numerous meetings with Siaya’s County Executive Committee for education and other heads of departments to address concerns of ECD teachers have ended up with empty promises.
He warned that if the County Government does not immediately address the plight of the suffering ECDE teachers, they will be left with no other option but to go to court.
“Employment of ECD teachers is not a favor. The teachers’ employment is provided by the law and therefore the schemes of service should be honored. We wonder why ECDE teachers in other counties like Kisumu or even Turkana are well remunerated while Siaya teachers’ suffer. Where does the county government of Siaya take the money meant to pay ECDE teachers?”Otunga questioned.
Otunga was flanked by Siaya county ECDE Chairman Tobias Aluso, ECDE union officials from Bondo Sub-county Doreen Obare and Christine Abade who also reiterated his remarks saying they will not relent in the pursuit for better terms of employment for the ECD teachers.
Aluso asked the county government to remit statutory deduction of ECDE teachers saying most of the teachers have been turned away from hospitals where they go for treatment because NHIF money deducted from their meager salaries have never been remitted.
While they commended the county government for improving ECDE infrastructure, Doreen Obare and Christine Abade demanded that the county government provide pay slips to ECDE teachers so that they can ascertain what each of them earns.
