TRANS-NZOIA: 735 ECDE teachers put on permanent employment terms

BY DAVID MUSUNDI

Tears of joy as 735 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers finally secure Permanent and Pensionable(PnP) deal in Trans-Nzoia County.

On Thursday, July 13th Governor George Natembeya issued the tutors with letters confirming their new status.

"ECDE sector which is devolved will continue to attract even more attention under my administration" Natembeya said .

It sounded a great relief for the nursery school teachers who have since inception of devolution back in 2013 been pushing to be absorbed as permanent staff of the county.

The teachers drawn from ECDE Centers across all five sub-counties were hosted at the Show Ground Primary school in Hospital ward, Kiminini Sub-County during an event that marked the end of a long-standing tussle between them and the County Government of Trans-Nzoia.

Natembeya said there is need for teachers to be well-remunerated and motivated through better terms of service and a service scheme.

He said during his tenure he will be employing additional 2000 ECDE teachers.

Under the deal, 15 teachers remaining with 3 months to retire will remain on contract terms.

Natembeya further said already 23 early childhood classrooms have been constructed across 25 wards of the County.

The county CEO also ordered that administration of ECDE be reverted back to the county department and not Primary School headteachers.

He also said his administration will put in place capitation for the ECDE learners to check on hundred percent retention.

The Governor also launched a milk feeding programme which he said will go along way in improving the nutritional value that will help boost growth and brain development of the children.

He said time has come for better infrastructure including construction of modern toilets befitting early childhood learners and their teachers.

"My collaboration with ward repre- sentatives will ensure teachers will not be seen again sharing toilets with learners" he ordered.

He implored upon the teachers to observe financial discipline saying those who failed to do so in the past ended up stagnating.

The Governor revealed that an ECDE Teachers Training College(ETTC) will be put up in the County. Previously, all the teachers were entitled to a uniform pay of Sh23,500 regardless of qualifications or duration of service.

However, with the new terms, all certificate holders will be paid a gross monthly salary of Sh24,500 while diploma holders will pocket Sh 28,940 and degree holders will make a gross monthly salary of Sh35,940.

“My administration is committed to improving the ECDE teachers working environment by putting up more infrastructure in our learning institutions,” Natembeya said.

Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi thanked the governor for uplifting livelihoods of teachers whom he challenged to venture into personal development.

"This is evidence that devolution is working. We therefore need to support every initiative of the governor in order to benefit from the projects" Oyagi said.

He said the national government is fully committed to work closely with county governments, Trans Nzoia included to realise rapid development. He said security measures had been put in place to protect property and lives of Kenyan and warned planners of ongoing violent demonstrations that stern action will be taken against them.

Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkori also thanked Governor Natembeya for fulfilling his itelectioneering campaign pledge to employ ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.

County Director of Education Pamela Akello hailed the governor for the confirmation of the teachers whom she said were upto the task to develop the young learners into great minds that will grow to be part of the wheels that will transform the County and Nation to greater heights.

"Today we sit here to celebrate our governor for the initiative to employ the ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. We therefore urge those who have been hired today to serve with humility.

She said through the pragmatic leadership of the governor the sector of Education will undego transformation. CEC for Education Julia Ruto said life begins at the ECDE level which is a transformative stage and challenged the teachers to work with zeal. She challenged the teachers to be accountable through commitment in order to address the dire needs of the learners.

County Secretary Truphosa Amere, County Public Service Board Members, Executive Committee members led by Public Service Management's Samson Ojwang and a number of ward representatives attended the function.