By Kodjo Adams
Accra, Oct. 2, GNA – The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called for improved pay and conditions of service for teachers to enable them to contribute effectively to national development.
The association also called for a shift from the minimum wage to a living wage that adequately supports workers, their spouses and children.
Mr Prosper Tachie, National President of GNAT, made the call on Friday at the launch of the GNAT Week celebration in Accra to mark World Teachers’ Day.
It was on the theme: “Empowering Teachers: Architects of the Future.”
Mr Tachie said inadequate remuneration had over the years contributed to challenges confronting workers, including teachers, and expressed concern about the allocation of resources to education, particularly the management of the sector’s wage bill.
He said although education remained one of the largest enterprises in every economy and employed a significant proportion of public sector workers, teachers continued to face difficulties regarding remuneration and other conditions of service.
Mr Tachie noted that the education budget had reportedly been reduced from more than GH¢33 billion to GH¢27 billion, saying the association had not been given adequate explanation for the reduction.
He also raised concerns about the implementation of promotions for teachers, saying about 6,000 members who had been placed on the appropriate salary scales were still awaiting payment of their arrears.
The issues, he said, had become particularly important as the association’s collective agreement was due for renewal this year.
Mr Tachie said the association was hopeful that ongoing engagements with relevant stakeholders would produce positive outcomes for teachers.
He said teachers played a critical role in developing the psychosocial and other faculties of learners and should be recognised as key architects of the future development of the country.
Mr Samuel Affadu, Deputy General Secretary in charge of Administration and Labour Relations, urged teachers to take greater ownership of activities marking World Teachers’ Day rather than relying solely on the government to declare the occasion a public holiday.
He said although there had been calls for World Teachers’ Day to be declared a public holiday, teachers could still make the occasion meaningful through activities at the district and local levels.
“There are a good number of us who are saying that the day should be given to us as a public holiday, but I have been saying that we can make it a public holiday ourselves,” he said.
Mr Affadu cited an initiative at the district level in which teachers sourced support to organise an awards programme to recognise outstanding teachers.
He said similar activities could be replicated across districts and local branches to ensure that communities recognised and appreciated teachers and their contribution to education.
Mr Affadu also encouraged teachers to use the occasion to reach out to communities and support families facing difficulties, stressing that teachers had a responsibility that extended beyond the classroom.
The GNAT leadership presented educational materials to Madavunu D/A Basic School and Besiasi M/A Basic School to enhance teaching and learning.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Kodjo Adams
Email: [email protected]