The government has been urged to review the pay of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers and strengthen support for unemployed teachers facing the prospect of retirement without ever securing formal employment.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) chairperson Omboko Milemba said ECD teachers deserve better compensation that reflects official wage guidelines and the importance of their role in laying the foundation for learners' education.
"They need a guarantee of fair compensation that aligns with official wage guidelines," Milemba said.
The Emuhaya MP also called for government intervention to support unemployed P1 teachers aged over 45 who risk reaching retirement age without securing employment.
The concern highlights a wider challenge facing trained teachers who remain outside the formal public service despite having invested years in professional preparation.
Milemba further called for greater stability for Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, whose transition into the new education structure has continued to generate debate over employment conditions, deployment and career progression.
He proposed shorter Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycles, arguing that moving from the existing arrangement to agreements covering two terms would allow teachers' welfare concerns to be addressed more quickly.
"We also need to provide greater stability for Junior Secondary School educators. Shortening Collective Bargaining Agreement cycles to two terms will ensure faster, more effective welfare adjustments for all teachers," he said.
His remarks come as teachers' welfare remains a central issue during World Teachers' Day, with calls for better remuneration, job security, career progression and improved working conditions taking centre stage.
The demands cut across different categories of educators, from ECD teachers at the foundation level to P1 teachers seeking employment and JSS teachers navigating the changing structure of basic education.
At the heart of the debate is whether teacher policies can adequately match the responsibilities placed on educators as Kenya continues to reform its education system.
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