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Learning at ECDE classes in Nyamira county has been paralyzed for the second week running after the county government failed to renew the expired contracts of the teachers.

Parents of affected learners yesterday expressed their anger and disappointment over the disruption of learning at the ECDE classes.

A spot check by People Daily in most schools established that majority of the ECDE learners whiled away time playing games owing to the absence of their teachers.

Nyamira county Woman Representative Jerusa Momanyi yesterday made a surprise visit to some of the schools where she came face to face with a situation where learners spent time in the playfields due to the absence of teachers.

A disappointed Jerusa asked the county government to move with speed and address the crisis, which she termed as of serious concern.

“How can the young learners come to school daily without being taught and yet the national government has given money to counties to cater for the employment of their teachers,” she asked.

She also challenged the county government to discard the culture of employing ECDE teachers on contracts saying the move was subjecting the learners to untold suffering.

“As leader from the county, I am asking the county government to employ ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms if we really mean well for our younger children,” she added.

Addressing learners, teachers and parents at Riomanga Primary School in Kitutu Masaba constituency, Jerusa said; “Denying our ECDE learners teachers means laying a weak foundation for our children thus affecting their future lives.

But the chief officer in charge of Education and vocational training at the county government Zipporah Kemunto Orina downplayed the concerns saying that the county government was in the process of renewing contracts of some of the teachers.

She however said that learning was going on as there was one permanent teacher in every school.