The county government of Baringo has renewed the contract of 1,735 early childhood development education (ECDE) teachers for another three years for continuity of teaching.
Governor Stanley Kiptis said the teachers have been issued with staff identification numbers to facilitate prompt payment of salaries and access of their pay slips through human resource system (Ghris) portal.
“This will boost their morale as we continue engaging the Council of Governors and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on the issue of scheme of service for ECDE teachers,” he said.
Speaking at Marigat high school grounds on Tuesday during Mashujaa day celebration presided over by county commissioner Henry Wafula, the Governor said to create a conducive learning environment for the learners, his administration has since 2017 constructed 177 new classrooms and equipped 189, which include both new and old classrooms with furniture.
He added that cumulatively the county government has built a total of 628 modern classrooms and 114 sanitation facilities at the centres across the county since the advent of devolution in 2013.
Through these efforts, Kiptis stated, enrolment has since increased from 49,786 to 51,335 and the figure is expected to rise tremendously after the rollout of ECDE feeding programme in about 144 selected centres with 6,000 children in arid and semi-arid areas and informal urban settlements that are vulnerable.
He added that the pilot phase of the feeding scheme to cost Sh 14.4 million will commence once learning resumes for remaining classes after the long break occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr. Kiptis said that in addition, the department has purchased learning materials including textbooks and syllabuses for PP1 and PP2 for the 1,045 centres at an estimated cost of 10.1 million.
The county government, he noted, unveiled an Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) policy in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP) aimed at providing meals to 52,000 children in the ECDE centres in the area.
“The ECDE Meals and Nutrition Programme Policy and Implementation Guidelines was finalized in December 2019 with the kind technical and financial support from World Food Programme. We sincerely thank WFP for the generous gesture,” said Kiptis.
“The programme will enable the learners to be served with a midday meal and thus reduce cases of absenteeism due to lack of food,” said governor.
He encouraged parents and other stakeholders to team up to ensure their children are well nourished and healthy for them to optimize their potential in learning and development.
The governor was accompanied to the celebrations by his deputy Jacob Chepkwony, CECs and other senior officers.
By Joshua Kibet
