The number of early childhood teachers (ECDE) in the country continues to decline, as the pupil-teacher ratio has kept increasing further.

This is despite counties’ efforts to improve the sector by enrolling more children in Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres and recruiting teachers for schools.

Between 2014 and 2019, the number of teachers in ECDEs has decreased by 22,472. These fresh details were revealed by A Ministry of Education policy brief report titled “Status of Early Childhood Development in the 47 Counties,” which was released on Thursday.

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According to the data, there were 114,831 ECDE teachers in 2014, but that number had dropped to 92,359 by the end of 2019.

“This may indicate high attrition rates among ECDE teachers in the country,” reads the report.The child-teacher ratio is also a major issue in all counties. According to the report, the ratio has risen over time, from a national average of 25:1 in 2014 to 29:1 and 30:1 in 2016 and 2019, respectively.

Despite the fact that the challenge is replicated throughout the county, Turkana County has the highest child to teacher ratio – 161: 1, indicating classroom congestion.

According to the report, despite the fact that the number of ECDE centre class sizes increased from 40,211 in 2014 to 46,530 in 2019, the average class size of an ECDE centre in Kenya remains unacceptably large, at 59 in 2019, up from 75 in 2014.

The class size in Kakamega County increased by 299 per cent from 83 in 2014 to 248 in 2019. In Kenya, children under the age of five account for approximately 7.2 million of the total population. According to the report, Nairobi and Kiambu have the most children, with 614,901 and 327,181 children, respectively.

An examination of the proportion of under-fives in each county revealed that the under-five population as a percentage of the total population is highest in West Pokot and Mandera counties, at 22 per cent each, and lowest in Kirinyaga (11 per cent), Embu (12 per cent), Nyeri (12 per cent), Tharaka Nithi (12 per cent), and Makueni (12 per cent) (12 per cent). According to the report, child abuse and neglect continue to be major issues throughout the country.

Abuse and neglect are widespread, particularly in Nairobi, Kilifi, Nyandurua, Taita Taveta, Uasin Gishu,Kericho, and Elgeyo Marakwet. Despite the government enacting the Children’s Act of 2001 to protect children, manychildren are still subjected to abuse and neglect, the report states.Kenya has also implemented a number of social protection programs aimed at children from low-income families. Furthermore, the report shows that child mortality rates in Western counties such as

Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay, as well as Asal counties such as Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa, are alarming.

According to the report, expectant mothers in Narok and West Pokot face barriers to receiving the required four antenatal visits. Most counties have also failed to meet the required immunization rate of 80%.While vaccination coverage in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu counties ranges between 94 and 98 per cent, coverage is extremely low in Turkana (30 per cent), Mandera (32%), and Wajir (38%) according to the report. Due to a lack of clean water, children are also exposed to diseases such as diarrhoea,which is a leading cause of death in children under the age of five.

Salaries of early childhood development education (ECDE) teachers vary, depending on counties, regardless of their similar qualifications.

This is probably because the county governments directly contract or employ ECD teachers and not the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) or the ministry of education.

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Salaries of ECDE teachers start from ksh. 7,000, with the highest paying county paying ksh. 40,000. Most counties employ ECDE teacher on contract terms as opposed to permanent and pensionable terms. In some of the counties, teachers are entitled to house allowance, responsibility allowance and commuter allowances.

Counties That pay ECD Teachers Salaries Less Than ksh. 10,000

Baringo, Narok, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Kilifi, Migori, Laikipia, Busia, Kiambu,Busia and Kericho.

In these counties, ECD certificate holders earn ksh. 7,500 while their Diploma counterparts earn ksh. 8,500.

Counties That pay ECD Teachers Salaries Between ksh. 10,000- ksh. 20,000

Makueni, Machakos, Isiolo, Marsabit, Murang’a, Nyeri, Makueni, Meru, Isiolo, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kisumu, Kwale, Kirinyaga, Mombasa, Transnzoia, Nandi, Kisii and Nyamira,Siaya, nairobi.

In these counties, certificate holders earn ksh. 10,000, diploma holders earn ksh. 12,200 while degree holders earn ksh. 15,000.siaya County also offers paid NHIF to its ECD Teachers.

An assistant ECDE teacher in Nairobi County earns a salary of between Ksh 15,620.00 to Ksh 19,160.00.

Counties That pay ECD Teachers Salaries More Than ksh. 20,000

Taita Taveta, Wajir, Bungoma, turkana, kajiado, mandera and Embu counties.

Mandera county ECD Teachers’ Salaries

Certificate holders-ksh. 28,000
Diploma holders- ksh. 30,000
Untrained ECD teachers- ksh. 20,000

Kajiado county ECD Teachers’ Salaries

Certificate holders- ksh. 24,000
Diploma- ksh. 27,000
degree holders- ksh. 35,000

Turkana County county ECD Teachers’ Salaries

Diploma holders : ksh. 43,000

Certificate holders ksh. 37,000.

 Job description of ECD Teachers

• Class teaching
• Organizing and facilitating play/learning activities for the learners;
• Caring and nurturing spiritual, moral, social, mental, physical, aesthetic and emotional growth of the learners (holistic development)
• Managing ECDE classes and keeping professional and administrative records (Schemes of work, lesson plans, daily programme of activities, attendance registers etc.) and ensuring learners’ safety and security;
• Preparing and developing play/learning materials.

Qualifications to be an ECD Teacher

• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) minimum grade D+(Plus) or KCE division IV at ‘O’ Level;
• Certificate in Early Childhood Development Education offered by KNEC/Ministry of Education or its approved equivalent;
• A certificate in Computer proficiency;
• Certificate of Good Conduct. NEXT