Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers hired by the Elgeyo Marakwet County government will each get a pay increment of Sh4,000 from January next year.
The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member in Charge of Education Edwin Kibor said the first cohort employed in 2014 will see their salary rise from Sh18,000 to Sh22,000, while the second and third lot will earn Sh20,000 and Sh16,000 up from Sh16,000 and Sh12,000, respectively.
The CECM, who was speaking during the launch of digital learning in Emsoo ward, said the county had planned to have each of the 9,045 teachers get the increment this July.
He, however, said their plans were affected by the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024, which affected the allocation to counties from the National Treasury, adding that it also affected their confirmation of appointments, but said they were looking forward to effecting the same once the allocation improves.
The CEC said once the teachers already in employment are confirmed, the county will hire others to address the shortage, thus relieving parents of the burden of hiring teachers through the board of management.
Kibor said the county was in the process of establishing a scheme of service for the teachers, which will see diploma holders enter the service at job group H with a starting salary of Sh29,000.
The County Assembly Education Committee Chairman, who is also the Emsoo ward MCA, Christopher Cheboiboch, confirmed that the Assembly had set aside Sh45 million, which was enough for the increment, but had to reduce the amount to Sh20 million.
“We are calling on our teachers to be patient as we address their salary issue. We assure them that we will prioritise the allocation in the coming financial year,” he said.
The CEC further said that the county had started implementing the personalised digital learning project in 17 schools before being rolled out to the rest of the county.
He said so far the project had shown great benefits as pupils are eager to go to school to use the gadgets, thus solving the issue of absenteeism in schools, adding that it had a component of a scheme of work and lesson plan for teachers, thus enhancing learning.
He added that to improve learning, the department will undertake the transfer of teachers but said they will be moved within the wards.
The CEC said there were schools which were yet to have ECDE classes, with others having poor toilets, saying they will prioritise the construction of the said facilities in accordance with the funds available.
Christine Kaino, an ECDE teacher, thanked the government for looking into the welfare of teachers, adding that digital learning would go a long way in ensuring that they lay the proper foundation for the young learners.
By Alice Wanjiru
