At least 453 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers who have been on contract have been converted to permanent and pensionable positions, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has disclosed.
Mutula said that the delay to confirm the ECDE teachers to be permanent and pensionable was due to constraints of budgetary allocation that would cater for their salaries and allowances.
“In 2014, in recognition of your role, the county government recruited 950 of you on contract due to budgetary constraints that delayed your conversion to permanent and pensionable position,” said Mutula outside his Wote office on Monday where he handed over letters of appointment to the ECDE teachers.
“But your dedication and hard work never wavered since 2014. In January, the first cohort of 497 teachers were taken on permanent positions and I promised the rest of you that you will have your day in July,” said the Governor.
However, he pointed out that this gesture was not a political event saying that the government was rewarding hard work exhibited by the teachers despite them earning very little money which would not cater for their daily needs.
Consequently, Mutula said it was imperative for the national and county governments to treat and remunerate teachers well because they perform a duty of preserving the future and impacting positively the young children of this country.
Mutula said that his government has invested in building child friendly infrastructure besides providing essential materials to facilitate activities like music and digital learning in ECDE centres across the county.
“We can spend so much money to construct beautiful classrooms and teachers go home with Sh5, 000 or 7,000. This is not human. I say we are sorry for what you have gone through,” lamented Mutula.
“We recognize the security of your welfare is an extension and assurance that you will not abandon our alpha generation,” posed the Governor.
The diploma teachers who were earning Sh 20,000 will now get Sh 41,000 while certificate holders will earn Sh 37,000 from Sh 17,000 besides other allowances. The ECDE teachers will be transferrable within the county.
He encouraged the ECDE teachers to embrace continuous learning so that they keep abreast of the technologies and teaching methodologies to enable them offer quality ECD learning to the young children of Makueni.
“We have completed 36 projects out of 44 in the 2023/2024 financial year. Through Anita Mbinya Foundation, we have distributed 1,000 kitty chairs and 125 kitty tables to enhance learning in our ECDE centres across the county,” said Executive Committee Member (ECM) for ICT, Education and Internship Elizabeth Muli.
Speaking at the same event, Makueni County Woman Member of parliament Rose Museo lauded the county government for the efforts they have made to nurture the young children in the county.
Present at the function included the Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Makueni County Service Board Chairperson Dr. Nicomeus Muteti, Devolution ECM Japheth Mang’oka and his counterparts for Lands, Urban Planning and Environment and Trade Nicolas Nzioka and Dr. Sonia Nzilani among other senior county government officials.
By Patrick Nyakundi and Mitchell Mwendwa
