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Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has directed that 735 early childhood development teachers be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
The county has also planned to employ an additional 2,000 teachers to ensure adequate staffing in the ECDE units in the region.
The ECDE teachers have since the inception of devolution been pushing to be absorbed on permanent terms.
The ECDE teachers from centres across the county were hosted by the governor at Showground Primary School in an event that marked the end of a long-standing tussle between them and the county government. Governor Natembeya issued them letters confirming their new status.
“Henceforth, I will ensure that ECDE teachers work under a good environment so they can also take good care of our children,” Natembeya said.
He said there was need for teachers to be well-remunerated and motivated through better terms of service and a service scheme.
The county boss said 23 ECDE classrooms had been constructed across the 25 wards in the county and ordered that the administration of ECDE be reverted back to the department of education and not under primary school heads.
The county will also provide capitation for the ECDE units to ensure improved enrolment and retention.
Natembeya also launched a milk feeding programme for the ECDEs, which he said will go a long way in improving the nutrition of the children.
He said time had come to improve the infrastructure including construction of modern toilets for the learners.
“We will continue to collaborate with our MCAs to ensure all ECDE units have necessary facilities for both the learners and the teachers,” Natembeya said.
He implored upon the teachers to observe financial discipline, noting that those who in the past failed to observe the same have stagnated.
Natembeya said his administration would in collaboration with the national government hire more health workers.
The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy Philomena Kapkory, revealed that an ECDE teachers training college would be put up in the county.
Trans Nzoia county commissioner Gideon Oyagi hailed the governor for uplifting livelihoods of teachers whom he challenged to venture into personal development.
“This is evidence that devolution is working. We therefore need to support every initiative of the governor to benefit from the projects started by the county,” Oyagi said.
Previously, all the teachers were entitled to a uniform pay of Sh23,500 regardless of qualifications or duration of service.
However, with the new terms, all certificate holders will be paid a gross monthly salary of Sh24,500 while diploma holders will get Sh28,940 and degree holders will make a gross monthly salary of Sh35,940 per month. BY THE STAR