Taita Taveta county government has conferred permanent employment upon 150 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers.
Governor Andrew Mwadime, in collaboration with the County Public Service Board (CPSB), distributed employment letters to these elated educators, thereby increasing the count of those on permanent terms to 510 within the county.
Records from the Department of Education indicate that Taita Taveta currently employs 679 ECDE teachers across 334 centers.
Governor Mwadime expressed his dedication to enhancing the terms and conditions for ECDE teachers, underscoring their vital role in advancing his education agenda. He assured ongoing initiatives to improve infrastructure in ECDE centers, highlighting the establishment of permanent structures for the children.
Governor Mwadime announced a capitation of Ksh 1,000 per year for each child in ECDE, earmarked for the feeding program, teaching, and learning materials. He emphasized the pivotal role played by ECDE teachers in sustainable development and pledged unwavering attention from his administration to address their needs.
Education Executive Gloria Monikombo reported a noteworthy surge in ECDE enrollment in Taita Taveta, escalating from 4,000 pupils in 2014 to over 12,000 presently.
She commended ECDE teachers for introducing pupils to the world of learning, anticipating an elevation in education standards with the recent employment initiative.
The decision to hire ECDE teachers arises amidst challenges posed by a substantial wage bill resulting from an expanded county workforce exceeding 3,000 employees. Last year,
Members of County Assembly (MCAs) directed the appointment of all ECDE and vocational training center tutors to permanent terms, addressing concerns raised by the then education committee chairperson, Joseph Mabishi.
Governor Mwadime, a former teacher, reiterated his commitment to valuing educators and incorporating their welfare into his administration. Senator Jones Mwaruma disclosed ongoing efforts in the Senate to review the ECDE Act, with the aim of enhancing the welfare and working environment of ECDE tutors.
