The Vihiga County Assembly Committee on Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Vocational Training has called for increased budgetary support, stakeholder engagement and policy reforms to address challenges facing ECDE teachers and Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) across the county.
The recommendations are contained in separate committee reports arising from public petitions presented to the County Assembly seeking intervention on matters affecting the education sector.
In one petition, the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Teachers (KUNOPPET) raised concerns over the welfare and remuneration of ECDE teachers, accusing the County Government of failing to implement the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary structure despite a court order directing compliance.
Presented under Standing Order 213(1) of the Vihiga County Assembly Standing Orders, the petition sought the Assembly’s intervention to ensure immediate inclusion of the SRC salary structure in the County Fiscal Strategy Paper and subsequent budgets, enforcement of the court ruling, and allocation of funds for the ECDE teachers’ Scheme of Service.
The union also called for protection of teachers against unfair labour practices and discrimination.
Following submissions from the petitioners, the Department of Education led by County Executive Committee Member for Education Anne Desma, and officials from the Office of the County Attorney, the committee observed that the matter remains active before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Consequently, the committee recommended mediation among the parties to facilitate an amicable and conclusive resolution. It further emphasized continuous stakeholder engagement to safeguard the interests of ECDE teachers, learners and parents.
The committee also urged the County Government to increase budgetary allocations to the Department of Education to enhance the welfare of ECDE teachers and improve service delivery in the sector.
In a separate report, the committee recommended a series of reforms aimed at improving the management and performance of Vocational Training Centres across the county following a public petition submitted by a county resident.
The petition raised concerns over governance, staffing, financial management and service delivery in VTCs and called for audits of governance structures, staff qualifications and financial records, as well as investigations into the oversight role of the Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
After receiving submissions from the petitioner and the County Department of Education, the committee recommended staff reshuffling and proper placement of personnel within institutions, increased budgetary support to the education sector and an audit of pending bills affecting VTC operations.
The committee further called for the full operationalization of the Vihiga County Vocational Training Centres Act and its regulations, implementation of previous reports on the status of vocational training centres, and stakeholder engagement to assess the viability of existing institutions.
Additionally, it recommended that unviable centres be repurposed for other county functions to ensure prudent utilization of public resources and directed the Department of Education to submit a status report on the implementation of an Ad Hoc Committee report on vocational training centres.
The reports underscore the Assembly’s commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved governance, enhanced funding, adherence to legal frameworks and sustainable planning aimed at improving learning outcomes and service delivery across the county.
