Some 533 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers have been moved from contract to permanent and pensionable (P&P) terms.
The decision to place the second cohort of ECDE teachers on P&P terms beginning May 6, 2022, is part of a service scheme enacted to allow teachers to earn the same as those in primary and secondary schools.
Addressing the recipients in a ceremony to hand over appointment letters at Busia Agricultural Training Centre, Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said his government is recognizing the work the ECDE teachers are doing in classrooms, urging everyone to appreciate the work the teachers do.
“Our children need good academic foundation. We hope that this will not only ensure that the children in our ECDE centres get quality education but also reduce the burden of parents paying teachers because the county government has taken up the initiative of paying the teachers. This will also reduce teachers-learners ratio,” he said.
The Governor added, “By employing these teachers, we have removed a burden from parents because now the County Government of Busia is paying ECDE teachers as opposed to the past when the parents used to pay the teachers.”
He called upon the teachers to discharge their duties diligently and ensure they impart requisite knowledge to the learners.
Busia deputy governor Moses Mulomi congratulated the governor and the teachers for the great milestone, telling the teachers to take good care of the children at schools.
He noted that the governor has made a significant change towards improving the working environment for the teachers by building classrooms and employing teachers, noting that the Governor has been very focused on matters education.
The County Executive Committee Member of Education Grephas Opata said ECDE is very important and must be taken seriously, thanking the Governor for his commitment towards his support.
The CECM noted that there are 460 ECDE centres across the county, adding that they intended to increase from the current 972 to improve teacher-learners ratio to enhance implementation of Competent Based Curriculum (CBC) at the foundational level of learning.
The Chairperson of the County Public Service Board Assumpta Obore said that the brainchild of employing the ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms was the then Chief Officer Lydia Nabwire.
“As a board we are grateful, we are aware of our Mandate and our independence, we will therefore continue to serve the people of Busia,” she said.
