Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) said it’s waiting for Government’s Policy on Teacher Motivation. This is due to the fact that teachers work under difficult conditions in the country. The Association is convinced that there is the need for government and stakeholders to provide decent working conditions, safe and healthy working environments, high-quality training and continuous professional development for teachers to operate at their optimum.
These statements were made at the launch of World Teachers Day on the theme: “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers”. GNAT instituted a week named “GNAT Week” to educate members and the public and also to celebrate the teaching profession.
To celebrate the week there would be quiz competitions, radio discussions, fun games throughout the Districts and Regions. There would be a national durbar at the Jackson Park in Koforidua on October 5, to climax the activities.
The Acting GNAT President, spoke on the Free Senior High School policy and commended the government for the initiative, saying that, the policy came as a relief to most parents whose incomes can hardly cater for the basic needs of their homes.
She urged government, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, to be circumspect in dealing with the challenges that would arise, to ensure that the policy goes hand-in-hand with the provision of quality education.
“The Association prefers a relationship that will be more consultative, collaborative and co-operative in addressing the challenges that may arise,” she added.
On corporate social responsibility initiatives, the Acting GNAT President said the Association had assisted 50 needy school children in the Eastern Region with school uniforms, school bags, Canvas, boots, textbooks and stationery to motivate them to go to school.
Mr David Acheampong, the General Secretary of GNAT said the recent action by the GES management to sidestep the laid down procedure in punishing heads of SHS, who may have disobeyed implementation regulation for the free SHS policy was undesirable. He called on the GES Council to intervene immediately to ensure that the right processes were followed to protect the sanctity of the school environment.
Mr Acheampong reminded the government of its pledge to make the teacher the pivot of quality education delivery since it was the obligation of government to ensure that teachers were empowered, valued, honoured and respected in the performance of their duty.