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{
    "id": 1109319,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1109319/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 282,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "where they had a teacher as a parent. Most of those children usually turn out well and it is because of the good work that they do both in school and at home. However, we do not pay them well despite them giving us priceless service because how much would you pay for somebody who teaches you to know how to speak, pronounce words, reason and be better shaped? The amount cannot even be valued in terms of remuneration. What we give is just a token of appreciation but I believe God in his own way ensures that in one way or the other they are always well taken care of. We need to do better as Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki has mentioned. At this particular time what comes to mind are two issues. One, is this forced training that has caused a lot of complaints among the teaching fraternity where the Government through the TSC is insisting these upgraded refresher courses for our teachers. They are insisting that first of all it is mandatory and it must be at the teacher’s expense despite the fact that they know that many of them are actually among the lowest paid civil servants. It would be unfortunate if this House allowed that to pass. I believe that our Committee on Education is on to that matter and they will not allow this injustice to be visited on very important members of our society. If the Government and the TSC feel that there are courses that there are mandatory courses that teachers must undertake, then it must be at the cost of the employer. In the first instance, if you have not properly remunerated them, then where do you expect to find the resources to pay for this training? Therefore, that need not be allowed. The second and most important thing that I wanted to mention is that we are here in the Senate which is the House of devolution. Therefore, we need as a House to do something akin to what Sen. (Dr.) Ali is doing to the health professionals, with regards to teachers and the ECD fraternity. If you go to many of our counties and see the way they are being treated; how Gov. Cyprian Awiti handles them in Homa Bay is different to how Gov. Muthomi Njuki handles them in Tharaka Nithi. If you come to Kericho they are paid differently yet they all do similar work. Equal pay for equal work is a universal edict that is respected as a labour practice across the world where if you do a similar job in a similar jurisdiction then there should be equal pay. Despite this you will find that in certain counties they are well taken care of while in others they are not recognized or unionized. There is a petition that I am aware of, from an ECD teacher from my own county of Kericho who continue to be underpaid. Some of them have not been absorbed into the labour force. They are not remunerated an amount that you would say is a decent amount that would enable one to take care of their monthly needs and concentrate on teaching the children. The point that I make as I conclude is that we need a unified policy on ECD teachers and as a House we must look into that. Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve, you are a Member of the Committee on Education. Please think about something and bring it before the House so that we either pass it as a resolution or even a Bill that ensures that ECD teachers in our counties are not mistreated as is currently the case. I wish to convey a belated happy International Teachers Day to all the teachers in this Republic."
}