No new contract, no teaching: Wajir ECDE teachers threaten strike
Early Childhood Development Education ( ECDE) teachers in Wajir county held a demonstration on Monday over paltry salary and lack of proper employment contracts.
The teachers who marched to the office of Wajir county governor said that the county government failed to renew contracts for teachers which expired in April, 2017.
” We are demotivated and most of the teachers are losing the moral to teach, some even left the teaching job and joined forces while the remaining are only missing the opportunity” said Jamal , The treasurer for Wajir union of ECDE teachers
Mr Jamal also added that they have made several efforts to reach Wajir County Executive Committe for Education Mr. Hussein Sugow but have not recieved communication from the department for the last two years .
“We have been raising our concerns to Wajir County Department of Education since 2016 but till today we are yet to receive a proper communication addressing our demands and rights as ECDE teachers in the County” Jamal added.
The Treasurer also lamented that the county remained mum on teachers promotions since 16th of April 2014 when Wajir county government absorbed ECDE teachers. He also added that most of the ECDE teachers are graduates but are earning like form four leavers.
” we are still in Job group B since the day we received the appointment letters, some of us have Diplomas, Degrees and even masters but no one is ready to consider us in promotions” said the Association Treasurer.
Abubakar Ahmed, a member of Wajir ECDE Association said Wajir ECDE teacher’s contracts expired on 16th of April 2017 and the department did not renew the teacher’s contract.
” We were employed on contract, 3 terms contract which expired on April 16th, 2017, no contract renewal, no one fired us and our issue is still pending. We have been in the payroll illegally for 2years and 8 months and when we questioned the Wajir County Human resources Manager, he threatened to write a letter to office of Education as to why we are in the payroll.” Said Abubakar.
Wajir ECDE teachers vowed to continue the demonstration until the county address the matter.
