SRC Move to Cut ECDE Teachers Salaries Sparks Uproar
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has recently faced criticism for its directive for county governments to reduce the salaries of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers.
The directive would lower salaries from as high as over KES 20,000 in some counties to a minimum of KES 7,836.
The Kenya County Governments Union (KCGWU), which represents the ECDE teachers, claims that they were not consulted in the process and is calling for the commission to revisit the issue in a more transparent and fair manner.
The controversy began when the SRC conducted a job evaluation for ECDE teachers at the request of the governors.
Based on their findings, the commission proposed a grading and salary structure for the teachers.
The proposed structure would pay the lowest ECDE teachers a minimum salary of KES 7,836 and a maximum of KES 8,717, while the highest ECDE teacher would receive a minimum salary of KES 15,224 and a maximum of KES 19,090.
Four counties – Vihiga, Homa Bay, Kisii, and West Pokot – have already indicated that they will implement the SRC’s recommendations. However, the KCGWU is advocating for all stakeholders to be consulted before any decisions are made.
According to the Secretary General of the KCGWU, Roba Duba, “at no given time was the union consulted in coming up the grading and salary structures which is totally against the law.”
The SRC’s CEO, Anne Gitai, stated that the commission developed the salary structure based on the results of the job evaluation and consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders.
However, the KCGWU is challenging this claim and is urging the commission to reconsider the matter. In their view, the rights of the ECDE teachers must be well protected and the process must be transparent and satisfactory.
SRC Move to Cut ECDE Teachers Salaries Sparks Uproar
