GNAT, 2 other unions gives Gov’t Sept. 30 to tackle challenges affecting teaching, learning

Three pre-tertiary education unions have issued a September 30 ultimatum to the government to address challenges impeding effective teaching and learning in schools.

Amongst the challenges are lack of teaching and learning resources, increased contact and working hours of teachers without compensation, slow pace in upgrading of teachers, absence of responsibility allowance, teachers’ promotion crisis, refusal to appoint teachers in the offices as Heads and Assistant Heads, transfer of teachers in special schools and signing of the performance contract.

Without disclosing their next action if the government fails to meet the deadline, the groups including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH), said “we will advise ourselves in the best interest of our members within the framework of our Collective Agreement and the applicable laws of Ghana.”

The statement was communicated through a press conference in Accra by Mr Thomas Tanko Musah, General Secretary of GNAT at who read a joint statement, demanding that government immediately address their concerns to avert any disaster.

Despite the threat of the spread of COVID-19, he said the government has not provided all the needed facilities and materials for pre-tertiary institutions to operate safely as some authorities have claimed.

He cited the absence of modern aids teaching and learning in schools, saying “there are no textbooks, the school environment is not conducive for learning, classes are overcrowded, the payment of capitation grant and administrative resources are delayed among others”.

Mr Musah said the hours’ teachers were required to work per day and per week as enshrined in the Collective Agreement has been increased by the Ghana Education Service (GES) without prior notice from their end or compensation to make up for the affected teachers.

King Ali Awudu, President, CCT-GH explaining further on the statement to Freedom Radio on the ‘’Yen Man’’ show hosted Kwaku Aboagye Apenteng lamented the slow pace at which the Ghana Education Service (GES) handled issues about the upgrading of teachers who on their own financed themselves to acquire degrees and those who have completed their study leave with pay.

He indicated that teachers who financed their education to acquire degrees have not been paid on the effective dates they were upgraded.

However, the disturbing issue is that some were given three months arrears while the majority received nothing.

Highlighting the issue of responsibility allowance, he said teachers who held various positions before being promoted to other ranks had not had their allowances restored despite several efforts by the affected teachers.

King Ali, was of the view that they have realised that some of the demands require time and for that matter given the government adequate time, so they were expecting the government to be able to address their grievances.

‘’We have sent a notice to the National Labour Commission(NLC), and it is not our wish that there will be labour unrest, but we will ensure that the government does the right thing’’ he indicated.

Source: freedomradiogh.com