ECDE Teachers in Bomet Down Tools Over Poor Pay
Nursery school educators in Bomet County are experiencing significant frustration. Early Childhood and Development Education (ECDE) teachers are currently on strike due to inadequate pay and substantial deductions, which have significantly reduced their already modest incomes.
These teachers are expressing their dissatisfaction with Governor Hillary Barchok, alleging that he has shown no interest in improving their compensation by implementing proper service schemes for ECDE teachers or providing permanent employment.
The teachers are deeply concerned about the impact of the high cost of living and inflation, which have eroded their meager earnings. They are calling for a review of their salaries to provide them with some relief.
Bomet County is considered one of the most challenging places for ECDE teachers to work, along with several other counties like Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kisii, Migori, Kitui, Makueni, Bungoma, Nandi, Embu, Kakamega, and Nakuru.
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Nevertheless, there is hope on the horizon as county education officials are now actively addressing the concerns of these teachers. They have pledged to reinstate some teachers whose contracts were terminated and to implement service schemes for ECDE teachers.
If these schemes are put in place, the teachers would be able to manage new deductions like housing levies and provident funds more comfortably.
In April of the previous year, Governor Barchok announced that Bomet County would continue providing free milk to all 56,000 children in 1,221 ECDE centers throughout the county. This initiative, which began in February 2022, will last for four and a half months in its initial phase, with milk supplied by the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC).
According to a statement from Bomet County’s Chief Accounting Officer, Nicholus Barich, Ward Coordinators will oversee milk distribution in their respective areas to ensure no school misses out.
Bomet County joins others like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nyandarua in launching similar programs to benefit their counties. Bomet has distinguished itself as a dairy-rich region due to the quality and quantity of milk it produces.
The Bomet milk is distributed to ECDE centers in 200ml packets twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Governor Hillary Barchok has stated that this program aims to promote children’s health and attendance at school. Additionally, local farmers will benefit by supplying milk, while Bodaboda riders will earn income by delivering milk boxes to various centers.
ECDE Teachers in Bomet Down Tools Over Poor Pay
