At least ten counties have agreed to implement the ECDE schemes of service (SoS) for teachers.
Bomet, Homabay, Embu, Kwale, Tana River, Narok, Kericho, Turkana, Kilifi and Wajir are some of the counties that have publicly come out to agree to implement the document.
The schemes of service which was compiled by the Council of Governors (CoG), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education was submitted to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for evaluation and grading.
For years the bone of contention has been remuneration and clear roles for ECDE teachers. Currently the highest paid ECDE teacher in a public school earns sh. 43,800 per month.
The lowest paid teacher in a public school earns sh. 7,500 monthly. The situation is pathetic in private schools where some teachers earn as low as sh. 2,000 as monthly salary.
Currently ECDE teachers are employed by county governments which pay varying salaries. Most counties employ ECDE teachers on contract and with poor pay most of them paying less than sh. 12,000 monthly.
The employment of ECDE teachers moved to the counties after TSC lost the battle to employ the teachers, in court.
Lack of clear structure for employing ECDE teachers has led to some counties to exploit them. Most counties call the teachers “caregivers” during recruitment.
The poor pay has resulted in shortage of ECDE teachers as some teachers opt for other lucrative jobs in other sectors.
However in a recent resolution, governors agreed to implement ECDE schemes of service for teachers which will see salaries harmonized.
In the resolution the Council of Governors shared with all the county governments the approved ECDE teachers schemes of service.
The governors also agreed to allocate more resources in the financial year 2022/2023 for implementing the schemes of service.
Following the governors move, the Senate Standing Committee on Education has convened a meeting with the Council of Governors on 11th and 12th February 2022 to address the issue.
In a letter dated 27th January 2022, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, the meeting is scheduled to take place in Kiambu on Friday this week.
TOP TEN BEST PAYING COUNTIES FOR ECDE TEACHERS
1. Kilifi county 24,000 (Certificate) 35,000 (Diploma)
2. Tana River county 24,000 (Certificate) 32,000 (Diploma)
3. Embu county 33,000 (Certificate) 37,000 (Diploma)
4. Turkana county 31,662 (Certificate) 34,662 (Diploma)
5. Kajiado county 25,000 (Certificate) 35,000 (Diploma)
6. Garissa county 35,000 (Certificate) 42,300 (Diploma)
7. Kwale county 25,000 (Certificate) 32,000 (Diploma)
8. Kiambu county 25,000 (Certificate) 28,000 (Diploma)
9. Kisumu county 31,880 (Certificate) 34,900 (Diploma)
10. Bungoma county 25,000 (Certificate) 32,000 (Diploma)
Among the issues to be addressed during the meeting in Kiambu are;
i) The number of ECDE teachers employed in each county and their terms of service, highlighting details of each cadre (certificate, diploma and graduate) and the category of the employment terms (permanent and pensionable and contractual)
ii) The strategies employed by County Governments to address the plight of ECDE teachers in their counties
iii) The implementation of ECDE teachers schemes of service in each county
iv) The measures that the County Governments have taken to ensure that ECDE teachers are remunerated in line with the government minimum wage
v) The indicative cost of implementing the ECDE teachers schemes of service in each county and existing budget and resources
Since the coming of devolution, ECDE teachers have fought to be recognized through better pay and good working condition.
The Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (Kenoppet) Chairman Lawrence Otunga has welcomed this latest move saying its a good gesture towards the right direction.
TOP TEN POORLY PAYING COUNTIES FOR ECDE TEACHERS
1. Kericho county 8,000 (Flat rate for Certificate and Diploma)
2. Baringo county 10,000 (Certificate) 11,000 (Diploma) 12,000 (Degree)
3. Nyandarua county 10,000 (Flat rate for Certificate, Diploma and Degree)
4. Nyeri county 12,650 (Flat rate for Certificate, Diploma and Degree)
5. Makueni county 12,000 (Certificate) 14,000 (Diploma)
6. Narok county 12,000 (Certificate) 14,000 (Diploma) 16,000 (Degree)
7. Nandi county 10,000 (Certificate) 12,000 (Diploma) 15,000 (Degree)
8. Kitui county 9,000 (Certificate)12,000 (Diploma)
9. Laikipia county 10,000 (Flat rate for Certificate, Diploma and Degree)
10. Uasin Gishu county 10,000 (Flat rate for Certificate, Diploma and Degree)
Some counties are employing and confirming ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. Some however hang on the contract which are renewable after a year.
December last year Narok county confirmed employment of 843 ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. Narok governor said the number will be increase to 2,000 this year.
Below is the highlight of how ECDE teachers will be paid should the schemes of service be implemented fully.
BASIC SALARY
| New Designation | Job group as per SoS | SRC equivalent job group | Basic salary as per SRC |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher III | F | C1 | 30,441 |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher II | G | C2 | 37,561 |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher I | H | C3 | 44,040 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher III | J | C4 | 52,220 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II | K | C5 | 61,373 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II | L | D1 | 90,336 |
| ECDE Teacher III | H | C3 | 44,040 |
| ECDE Teacher II | J | C4 | 52,220 |
| ECDE Teacher I | K | C5 | 61,373 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher III | L | D1 | 90,336 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher II | M | D2 | 98,607 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher I | N | D3 | 114,674 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher III | K | C5 | 61,373 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher II | L | D1 | 90,336 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher I | M | D2 | 98,607 |
| Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher II | N | D3 | 114,674 |
| Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher I (Assistant Director) | P | D4 | 135,243 |
| Senior Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher (Deputy Director) | Q | D5 | 144,760 |
| Chief Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher (Director) | R | E1 | 175,261 |
HOUSE ALLOWANCE
| New Designation | Job group as per SoS | SRC equivalent job group | House allowance |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher III | F | C1 | 4,500 |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher II | G | C2 | 6,750 |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher I | H | C3 | 6,750 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher III | J | C4 | 10,000 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II | K | C5 | 16,500 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II | L | D1 | 28,000 |
| ECDE Teacher III | H | C3 | 6,750 |
| ECDE Teacher II | J | C4 | 10,000 |
| ECDE Teacher I | K | C5 | 16,500 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher III | L | D1 | 28,000 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher II | M | D2 | 28,000 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher I | N | D3 | 35,000 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher III | K | C5 | 16,500 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher II | L | D1 | 28,000 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher I | M | D2 | 28,000 |
| Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher II | N | D3 | 35,000 |
| Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher I (Assistant Director) | P | D4 | 45,000 |
| Senior Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher (Deputy Director) | Q | D5 | 45,000 |
| Chief Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher (Director) | R | E1 | 50,000 |
COMMUTER ALLOWANCE
| New Designation | Job group as per SoS | SRC equivalent job group | Commuter allowance |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher III | F | C1 | 3,000 |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher II | G | C2 | 4,000 |
| Assistant ECDE Teacher I | H | C3 | 4,000 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher III | J | C4 | 4,000 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II | K | C5 | 5,000 |
| Senior Assistant ECDE Teacher II | L | D1 | 6,000 |
| ECDE Teacher III | H | C3 | 4,000 |
| ECDE Teacher II | J | C4 | 4,000 |
| ECDE Teacher I | K | C5 | 5,000 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher III | L | D1 | 6,000 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher II | M | D2 | 8,000 |
| Senior ECDE Teacher I | N | D3 | 8,000 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher III | K | C5 | 5,000 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher II | L | D1 | 6,000 |
| Graduate ECDE Teacher I | M | D2 | 8,000 |
| Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher II | N | D3 | 8,000 |
| Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher I (Assistant Director) | P | D4 | 12,000 |
| Senior Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher (Deputy Director) | Q | D5 | 14,000 |
| Chief Principal Graduate ECDE Teacher (Director) | R | E1 | 16,000 |
HOUSE ALLOWANCE