The Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) has protested the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) controversial proposal ordering county governors to pay Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers extremely low monthly salaries.
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According to the SRC recommendations, the lowest ECDE teachers (ECDE Teacher III (Certificate) will be paid a minimum of Ksh.7,836 and a maximum of Ksh.8,717, while the highest ECDE teachers (Senior ECDE Teacher I (Diploma) will be paid a minimum of Ksh.15,224 and a maximum of Ksh.19,090.
KUNOPPET chairman Lawrence told the media on Sunday that they will not allow nursery teachers to be despised and humiliated by low pay and that they should be treated fairly as other public servants.
KUNOPPET chairman Lawrence Otunga told the media on Sunday that they will not allow nursery teachers to be despised and humiliated by low pay and that they should be treated fairly as other public servants.
Otunga vowed to fight for the salary recommendation to be revised until a reasonable decision is reached.
“We are not happy with SRC’s decision to humiliate us. Is seven thousand enough salary for a teacher? How will a teacher pay house rent and pay school fees for their children? A teacher also has their personal needs and families to take care of,” he said.
“We deny the recommendations from SRC to governors and we say that nursery teachers will not be despised and we are here to fight for the rights of every ECDE teacher.”
Chairman Otunga also criticized Governors for carrying out the SRC orders, stating that the recommended pay cannot support any individual in light of the current economic challenges.
“There are some governors who have already sent letters saying that they have started to implement the SRC orders. We shall not allow any county to pay its ECDE teachers Ksh.7K,” he said.
“There are teachers who earn up to Ksh.60K some Ksh.70K now you want to deduct that to Ksh.7K? How will is that possible?”