ECDE Teachers Salaries As MPs Propose Hefty Allowances

ECDE Teachers Salaries As MPs Propose Hefty Allowances

The Senate has proposed a resolution that could significantly improve the benefits for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers if adopted by the governors. The Council of Governors (CoG) is considering extending capitation to ECDE centers, similar to the funding provided to primary, secondary, and vocational education levels.

Key Points from the Proposal:

1. Capitation Extension to ECDE Centers

   – Objective: Facilitate the hiring of more ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.

   – Scope: Cover teaching materials, school meals, classroom management, and infrastructure, which currently consume a large portion of the ECDE budget.

2. Financial Support and Implementation

   – Senate Education Committee’s Recommendation: The National Treasury should distribute grants to counties.

   – Counties’ Role: Implement the ECDE teachers’ scheme of service and allocate funds for salary increments to meet minimum standards as per the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines.

3. Improving Teacher Welfare and Morale

   – Current Challenges: Slow implementation of the service scheme has led to irregular payment schedules, negatively impacting teacher morale.

   – Suggested Actions: Review ECDE tutors’ job descriptions and roles to align them with the new funding and support structures.

4. Collaborative Frameworks

   – Stakeholders Involved: The Council of Governors, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).

   – Timeframe: Establish frameworks and collaborations within 90 days to improve ECDE teachers’ management and capacity building and to facilitate the rollout of the competency-based curriculum (CBC).

5. Current ECDE Teacher Employment Data

   – Numbers: 32,656 ECDE teachers employed across 38 counties.

   – Employment Terms: 30,249 on contracts, and only 2,407 on permanent and pensionable terms.

   – Salary Range: Lowest-paid certificate holders earn Sh9,420 monthly, while the highest-paid graduate teachers receive Sh59,770. Most ECDE teachers earn between Sh12,000 and Sh22,000 per month.

6. Conditional Grants and Budgetary Allocations

   – Framework: Establish a system for conditional grants and ring-fence funds to improve the ECDE sector.

   – Resource Allocation: County governments should allocate adequate resources, and county assemblies should legislate to increase the annual budgetary allocation to the ECDE sector to at least 10 percent of county revenue.

7. Quality Assurance and Monitoring

   – Call to Action: The Ministry of Education and the TSC should support quality assurance and standards officers in conducting thorough monitoring and inspections of ECDE centers.

By implementing these measures, the Senate aims to enhance the quality of early childhood education, ensure better working conditions for ECDE teachers, and improve the overall educational infrastructure for young learners in Kenya.

ECDE Teachers Salaries As MPs Propose Hefty Allowances