Children Celebrate Village Teacher
Residents of Kamae village in Homa bay County were treated to a rare celebration as children threw their mother a retirement party. The children who reached out to their mother’s old pupils and their own friends were encouraged by her persistence and resilience in service.
While banking on their network and exposure, the children mobilized enough resources to give their mother a feel of what it is to retire. The attendees who included EYE teachers, the school community and guests of diverse social standing were amazed by the children’s organization and planning as they celebrated their mother’s three decades’ teaching sacrifice.
Madam Eucabeth Kaudo, a mother of eight, joined Miyuga Primary School as a volunteer ECDE teacher in the year 1990 and was privileged enough to nurture both boys and girls from the community. Her passion in caring for children saw her interact with pupils from diverse backgrounds.
Even though she gave her all as a volunteer, she still believes the government could have done better in Early Childhood Development Education. For thirty-three years, she pushed through life amidst meagre pay that was irregular and unpredictable. In the opinion of her children, 33 years was not just a number – it was a product of tolerance, sacrifice and hard work.
“My mother’s 33 years in serving the community as a volunteer ECDE teacher was never in vain,” her daughter Emma, who is a dietician, said during the party.
After thirty-three years, the children felt it was time their mother bowed out in order to focus on other family matters. According to the family, it was painful that their mother would just quit her passion and fail to celebrate the 33 years of uninterrupted service.
Since it was taking too long for the school where she worked for three decades to celebrate her, the family came up with an elaborate plan to appreciate their mother for being true to her service.
“My mother taught me in ECDE and I didn’t know what she earned as salary until I was elected chairman of BOM of the same school almost 26 years later. I was shocked to learn it was Ksh. 3,000. I lost words because I couldn’t tell what she earned 26 years ago,” says his fourth born child, Isdore, who holds a Master’s degree.
For three decades, Madam Eucabeth earned Ksh. 3,000 to keep going. She neither lost hope nor looked back. She focused on the learning of her pupils and those of her children. This in essence paid off since today all her eight children are graduates in different fields.
Mrs. Kaudo began her voluntary journey shortly after Homa Hills organization granted her an opportunity to join Kitale Dicese for specialized training in Early Childhood Development Education. The training gave her the impetus to interact with children and many of her old pupils celebrated her sacrifice.
It was a well celebrated event as her peers, guests and old pupils presented gifts and cash in recognition of her good work. The gifts included clothes, kitchen wares, furniture and households among others. Her children awarded her a retirement package of Ksh. 100, 000 together with a 10,000 litre water tank and their father also received a package of Ksh. 100, 000.
“As a family, we know our parents deserve better, but this is the beginning of how to appreciate excellence in service,” said the family’s organizer, a political scientist, Philip Kaudo. The old pupils reminded the chief guest that Mrs. Kaudo’s role was crucial in community transformation hence influencing their resolve to celebrate her.
“Today, I celebrate my teacher and I am happy because she nurtured me. It is true good work never goes unrewarded. Today, we appreciate her role in shaping our opportunities,” said Wickliffe Owino, a civil engineer, one of her pioneer pupils.
The retirement party was graced by Kenya Union Of Pre- Primary Education Teachers National Chairman Mr. Lawrance Otunga and also attended by Wang’chieng Ward Supervisor Mr. Ogombo who represented Rachuonyo North Sub County EYE Director.
While addressing the gathering, KUNOPPET chairman Mr. Otunga congratulated Mrs. Kaudo for the feat – hinting that the celebration was a challenge to employers who fail to celebrate their employees. He however challenged the county government of Homa bay to treat Early Years Education (EYE) teachers with respect since their role in competency-based curriculum is crucial.
He challenged Governor Wanga to abandon her idea of slashing EYE teachers’ salaries since it is illegal. “The EYE teachers are the most underpaid, the least respected yet the most overworked. These teachers also need to lead decent lives, they have to be paid well and nobody has the express authority to revise pay of any worker downwards. If the pay can’t be adjusted upwards, let the governor leave the pay at where she found it,” Lawrance Otunga charged.
leaders who graced the occasion included Rachuonyo branch KNUT executive secretary Eliud Ombori, Patrick Were (advisor to Homa bay governor on Education and Stakeholders’ Management), Patrick Mwenja (KEFRI – Assistant Regional Director, Turkana), Kenya Primary School Heads Associati Other on, Rachuonyo North Sub County Mr. Obilo and the principal Miyuga Secondary School Mr. Ondoro.
Children Celebrate Village Teacher
