NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 8 – The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has refuted claims that it had recommended Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers’ and caregivers’ salaries be slashed to below the minimum wage.
The Lynn Mengich-led commission noted that the reports misrepresented the directive given to the 47 governors across the country.
She stated that her team advised a gross remuneration for the lowest cadre of ECDE teacher based in Nairobi to receive between Sh14,961 and SH15,842, while those based in other areas to receive between Sh13,211 and Sh14,092.
Kenyans on social media called out SRC after it emerged that the commission had reduced ECDE teachers and caregivers’ salaries to below the minimum wage.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) had vowed to oppose the SRC’s recommendation.
KNUT Homa Bay Branch Secretary Patrick Were said that it was regrettable SRC had recommended the lowest ECDE teachers be paid a minimum salary of Sh7, 836 and a maximum of Sh8,717 while the highest ECDE teachers should receive a minimum salary of Sh15,224 and a maximum of Sh19,090.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the SRC described the report as misleading while pointing out that the ongoing media stories about ECDE teachers being set to earn reduced salaries of sh. 7000 were based on the basic pay rather than the gross compensation.
“The reports were based on basic salary instead of the gross salary and thus misleading,” the statement clarifies.
“SRC hereby clarifies that in December 2021, it advised a gross remuneration for the lowest cadre of ECDE teacher based in Nairobi (Cluster 1) receiving between Ksh14,961 and Ksh15,842, while those in Cluster 4 (other areas) receiving between Ksh13,211 and Ksh14,092. This advice considered affordability and fiscal sustainability of the wage bill for county governments.”
The commission also stated that they are now assessing the pay for all public employees, including ECDE teachers, as part of the third pay review cycle, which will be announced by June 2023.
“In line with our mandate of setting, reviewing and advising on the renumeration and benefits in the public service, SRC will continue to engage and respond to stakeholders on the matter as appropriate,” the statement states.
On Sunday, Lawrence Otunga, the chairman of the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers, said that the union will not want nursery teachers to be despised and humiliated by receiving poor pay and that they should be treated similarly to other public employees.
“We are not happy with SRC’s decision to humiliate us. Is seven thousand enough salaries for a teacher? How will a teacher pay a house rent and pay school fees for their children” A teacher also has their personal needs and families to take care of,” he said.
“We deny the recommendations from SRC to governors and we say that nursery teachers will not be despised and we are here to fight for the rights of ECDE teachers.”
