By Roy Hezron
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has dismissed claims that it has reduced the salaries for Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers terming the media reports as misleading.
In a clarification statement from the Commission dated February 7, 2023 regarding the Salary Structure for ECDE teachers and Caregivers, SRC maintains that the reports were based on basic salary instead of the gross salary.
“SRC hereby clarifies that in December 2021, it advised a gross remuneration for the lowest cadre of ECDE teacher based in Nairobi (Cluster 1) receiving between Ksh 14,961 and Ksh 15,842, while those in Cluster 4 (other areas) receiving between Ksh 13,211 and Ksh 14,092,” said SRC in the statement.
“This advice considered affordability and fiscal sustainability of the wage bill for county governments. Upon a request from county governments, SRC issued a clarification on 13 January 2023 reiterating its earlier position on the remuneration and benefits of ECDE teachers,” it added.
The Commission stated that they are currently reviewing the remuneration for all public officers, including ECDE teachers, under the third remuneration review cycle which shall be issued by June 2023.
“In line with our mandate of setting, reviewing and advising on the remuneration and benefits in the public service, SRC will continue to engage and respond to stakeholders on the matter as appropriate,” said SRC.
The Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) has since protested the controversial proposal from SRC, with the union National chairman Lawrence Otunga stating that they will not allow nursery teachers to be despised and humiliated through earning low salaries and should be treated fairly as other public servants.
