Meru County employs 800 early childhood teachers

Governor Peter Munya of Meru (under the umbrella) poses for a photograph with other county officials and the more than 800 ECDE teachers who have been recruited by the county government. Mr Munya noted that basic education was a constitutional right for every child and said his government will strive to ensure that they get education. KENNEDY KIMANTHI.

What you need to know:

  • Governor Peter Munya said the successful teachers are required to report to their respective schools this week.
  • Mr Munya said it was regrettable that many children had been unable to go through basic education due to lack of enough teachers in the county.
  • The governor noted that basic education was a constitutional right for every child.
  • The schools are also being prepared for a feeding programme that will help tackle malnutrition in some parts of the county, according to the governor.

The Meru County government has employed more than 800 early childhood development education (ECDE) teachers.

This is expected to lay a strong foundation and consequently improve education in the county.

Governor Peter Munya said the successful teachers are required to report to their respective schools this week.

Speaking at Kinoru Stadium after issuing them with their letters of appointment, Mr Munya said it was regrettable that many children had been unable to go through basic education due to lack of enough teachers in the county.

"The employment of 813 teachers is another milestone in strengthening education standards in this county.

Pre-primary education has been largely ignored by the national government for a long time, leaving it to the parents who have not been able to provide qualified teachers at the early stages of development," he said.

The governor noted that basic education was a constitutional right for every child.

His government, he said, will strive to ensure that every child gets education.

THREE YEAR CONTRACT

The teachers have been employed on a three-year contract by the county government and will receive a gross monthly salary of Sh10,000.

According to Mr Munya, plans are also underway to post a second teacher in schools that have more than one stream, which will be done after the identification of such schools.

The county government is also putting up two equipped ECDE classrooms in every ward in the county this year.

"This translates to 90 classrooms in the first year and will continue until all ECDE centres are fully equipped.

My government also wishes to harmonise the ECDE curriculum as stipulated by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)," Governor Munya said.

FEEDING PROGRAMME

The schools are also being prepared for a feeding programme that will help tackle malnutrition in some parts of the county, according to the governor.

County Executive in charge of Education Hellen Nangithia said there will be continuous supervision and evaluation of curriculum delivery to ensure learners transit to standard one.

She said the employment of the nursery school teachers will be a relief to parents who have been paying exorbitant fees in private schools.

The teachers who were happy that they got jobs thanked the county government for the offer saying they will not disappoint their employer.

"I am grateful that I have been hired. It does not matter whether it is the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) or the county government that employed us. I am so happy," said Karimi Peter, one of the new teachers.