ECDE teachers slam Governors for opposing management changes

The Union expressed its support for the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party for Education Reforms (PWPER).

The working party, in its report December 2023 report, proposed the transfer of ECDE management from the County government to the National government.

"We want CoG to know that we are the wearer of the shoe. We know where it pinches most. They are not aware if our sufferings. We declare our support for that report,” said KUNOPPET chairperson Lawrence Otunga.

Otunga, in a press address on Sunday, expressed concerns about why governors rejected the recommendations by the PWPER.

"CoG is not legally a group of employers, therefore they should keep off matters education and leave it to experts. Their interests should not conflict with the public interests,” said the union chairperson.

The Presidential Working Party taskforce, led by Prof. Raphael Munavu in their report had among others recommended that ECDE functions be moved to the national government to allow pre-primary schools to Junior Secondary to be led by one head of the institution.

The recommendations were not well received by the Council of Governors (CoG), which rejected these reforms, saying they undermined the basic structure and framework of the Constitution.

The CoG stated that they shall continue to carry out their mandate as stipulated in the constitution. The ECDE functions were placed under County government since the inception of devolved governments.

On its part, the Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) had also rebuked the Governors over their resistance to adopting the changes. They urged the county chiefs to prioritise the children’s interests.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said devolving ECDE was a mistake, and the reforms by the Prof. Munavu-led taskforce should be implemented in full.