By Francis Kwabena Cofie
Accra, June 12, GNA – The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Accra Metro Central District has held its first quadrennial delegates conference with a call on government, employers and educational stakeholders not to compromise on teacher motivation and support.
Mr Michael Austen Kugblenu, the Public Relations Officer of the Ablekuma North Municipal Education Directorate, who made the call, said this would create a safe, secure and enabling environment for teachers to deliver on their mandate.
The conference was on the theme: “The Ghana Education Service (GES) @ 50 – Achievement, Teacher Motivation, Challenges and the way forward.”
Mr Kugblenu, who was the guest speaker, commended the members of the association for their unwavering resolve to advance the cause of education in their jurisdictions and the country as whole despite the challenges.
He noted some of the challenges bedeviling education in the Ablekuma North Municipality, such as administrative bottlenecks, teacher attrition and brain drain, overloaded curriculum and examination pressure.
He said teachers in the area must be motivated with the provision of affordable housing, clothing and rent allowance, tax waivers to enable them to buy vehicles to support their work as part of addressing some of their challenges.
Mr Kugblenu said there was the need for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to pay attention to the health needs of teachers and the provision of security at the schools to protect both teachers and learners.
Mr George Anane Appiah, the Chairman of the Accra Metro Central District of the GNAT urged newly elected executives of the branch, saying, “As leaders, we must restore the trust and confidence placed in us by our teachers,” he said.
Mr Appiah called on the government to provide adequate teaching and learning materials to all teachers to ensure effective teaching and learning.
He further called for the payment of all other allowances as enshrined in the conditions of service, adding that affordable houses should be provided for teachers in the form of a mortgage to save them from the hands of callous landlords and landladies.
He condemned the recent attacks on teachers by some students, especially those in the Senior High Schools, and urged the GES to take drastic action against such recalcitrant students to serve as a deterrent to others.
He advised teachers to have a change of attitude towards their work, saying “as educators, we must set good examples for our students to emulate. “
GNA
Christian Akorlie