A teacher’s Association has petitioned Homa Bay County government to disregard pay guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission(SRC) for Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers.
The Kenya Women Teachers Association (Kewota) instead wants the county government to obey a court order that barred it from slashing salaries paid to early childhood education teachers.
An Employment and Labour Relations court had directed the county government not to implement recommendations by the SRC.
The SRC had advised county governors across the country to implement a new pay structure which in effect reduced the pay for teachers in some counties.
Homa Bay Kewota Coordinator Mercy Achieng argued that ECD teachers earn measly salaries and any reduction of their earnings will impoverish them.
“So far, Homa Bay County government is non-committal on the issue of slashing salaries of ECD teachers. The court had pronounced itself on the matter and we expect the government to obey it,” Achieng said.
She spoke in Homa Bay town Monday after being elected as kewota Coordinator for Homa Bay County.
The official called on other unions such as Kenya Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), and Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (Kunoppet) to put on a spirited fight for the welfare of teachers.
“Unions like Kuppet and Knut should cooperate with Kunoppet to defend ECD teachers. The welfare of the teachers can only be achieved through unity” She said.
Achieng said the slashing of salaries for early childhood education teachers will negatively impact on the quality of education.
She said many teachers will get demoralized thus compromising education standards.
“Quality education cannot be provided in an environment where teachers are demotivated,” she added.
Achieng said she will champion for the welfare of teachers including ensuring they are paid
The Coordinator expressed dismay that the county government had so far not responded to the court order that barred it from implementing SRC recommendations.
At least 1,357 teachers in Homa Bay County had been awarded permanent and pensionable terms by the time former Governor Cyprian Awiti was exiting office.
Kunnopet Secretary Mike Shaya said the reduction of teachers’ salaries was akin to punishment over undisclosed sins.
They moved to court which suspended the reduction of salaries but the county government is yet to act on the ruling.
“Homa Bay government seems reluctant and is avoiding complying with the court order. Some amount of money was deducted from June salaries,” Shaya said.
