BY WINSTONE MUSISI
Over 1,300 Early Childhood Development Education ( ECDC ) teachers in Uasin Gishu County will be employed on permanent and pension terms on the 1st of July this year, area governor Jackson Mandago has today January 12, directed.
Mandago said that the teachers whose monthly salary has been Sh10,000 after they were employed on contracts by the regional government nine years ago will receive a salary hike of sh3,000 each.
Speaking to the media in Eldoret, Mandago regretted that the tutors have for a long time been subjected to unethical labour practices and that it was time to look into their welfare as one way of motivating them.
Mandago said that going forward, his administration will be hiring ECDC tutors on permanent and pensionable terms to be in tandem with other public servants.
The governor said they will also be improving the ECDC teacher’s scheme of service subject to availability of funds so that they feel adequately remunerated.
The county, Mandago added, will strive to improve the working condition of the teachers despite the challenge of the wage bill his administration is facing, besides delayed disbursement of money to counties by the National Treasury.
“My government will address the welfare of ECDC teachers without discrimination as they play critical role in molding learners at a critical age,” assured Mandago.
The county has so far constructed state of the art ECDC classrooms in six sub counties namely, Kapseret, Moiben, Ainabkoi, Turbo, Kesses and Soy.
According to the governor, the pupil enrolment increased from 11,651 to the current population of 36,492 across the county.
He reiterated his government’s commitment to increase the salaries of ECDC teachers to match other members of the teaching fraternity so that they can also own cars, houses like others in view of the fact they are doing a good job at the grassroots levels.