Basic and SHS Teachers demand 5 allowances from the Government of Ghana

EducationGhana, September 4, Teachers: Teachers at the Basic and Senior High Schools have demanded some five (5) allowances from the government of Ghana.

The teachers comprising members of some 16 Locals of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at a press conference organized at the Ho Pleasure Gardens on Thursday, 2nd September 2021 said it was prudent government to take measures to address their challneges.

The allowances include;

1. Rent Allowance
2. Allowance for form masters at the JHS and Class teachers at the primary school.
3. Risk allowance
4. Research allowance
5. Allowance for teachers in deprived communities.

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Read Details Below:

PRESS CONFERENCE BY TEACHERS ON THE TOPIC “THE UGLY TENDENCIES WITHIN GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE”

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press herein gathered. On behalf of my colleague teachers, I wish to welcome you all to this very important Press Conference and also to thank you all for your prompt response to our call. You cannot be wrong for coming here because the purpose of this gathering addresses critical issues affecting Ghanaian teachers and education at large.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is no denying fact that education in Ghana is incomplete without Ghanaian teachers. This is a fact that cannot be contested. But the obvious question that always begs for answers is whether Ghanaian teachers are given that due recognition, good remuneration and the respect that they deserve. Your guess is as good as mine.

It is important for us to state that, democracy without education is meaningless because it is education and enlightenment that lift a nation to the heights of progress and greatness.

As teachers, we are at the frontline of education and play a major role in shaping values, knowledge and skills of students. We are the pillars of the nation-building process because we help influence the next generation to become morally responsible and productive members of our community.

It should also be noted that we are the country’s gatekeepers, opening doors to opportunities and possibilities that are beyond the foreseeable horizon. We trigger visions, develop building blocks and catalyze actions to build the world to come. So, therefore, we would not allow ourselves to be taken for granted any longer.

Ladies and gentlemen, our concerns are as follow;

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PROMOTION ISSUES

The issues that surrounded the recent promotion examination result that was written in February, is still something we cannot comprehend. Why should teachers be told they have passed when they checked at first but later another indication showing failure? Others were told to submit their documents for further verification but were later told they failed. We all saw on national television the frustrations meted out to those teachers. It is clear to us it was just a quota system that was used in passing those who wrote the exam.

We are calling on the leadership of GNAT as a matter of urgency to meet with the Ministry of Education and arrange for remarking of those examination scripts and subsequent publishing of the results of teachers who were told to bring their documents to the Regional Education Office for verification but were later told they have failed the exam. We have no doubt in our minds that our teachers have successfully passed their examination but were failed because of a shrouded quota system being used by Ghana Education Service.

As teachers, we are worried about the continuous silence by our national leadership on this matter and we can no longer bear the frustration.

Ghana Education Service, must as a matter of urgency exhibit competence, diligence and professionalism on issues regarding promotion exams within the service and that the disgraceful manner they handled the last promotional results and the disparity in the examination because prior to the exam others who even qualified were not given index numbers and had to write the exams at a later date.

Secondly, as we speak the lower ranks thus those who completed in 2015 and 2016 have equally not been put on the scale after passing their promotion exams, thus 2018 and 2019 respectively.

RESIT EXAMINATION

Our colleagues who failed in the aptitude promotion exam, petitioned the education committee of parliament of which we are aware the issues are under investigation. How come the Ghana Education Service is calling on those they claimed failed the exam to re-register for the exam under investigation?

TEACHERS NOT PUT ON SCALE

The teachers who passed their promotion exam written in February have since not been on their rightful scales. When the aptitude promotional exam started last year, it took Ghana Education Service within Two Months for those teachers who passed to be put on the scale but that is not the case this year. Could it be that it was because last year was an election year and hence the alacrity in putting the teachers on the scale?

We are calling on the Ghana Education Service, as a matter of urgency to put us on our rightful scales and pay all the outstanding arrears by the end of September without any further delay. We are tired of the ugly frustrations. We need peace of mind.

LICENSURE EXAMINATION

The recent publications on the licensure examination result call for a broader reflection. The licensure examination has become an instrument aimed at elimination by rough tactics. We are of the view that, licensure exams should be part of the final examination written by trainees before completing school. The current approach is nothing but an affront to the teaching profession because it lacks transparency.

4% SALARY INCREMENT

The paltry 4% salary increment is an insult to Ghanaian workers. The expected 7% increment for next year we reject ahead of time. Government must go back to the negotiation table to increase it to nothing less than 12%. Government cannot use COVID-19 as an excuse when people are using the same COVID -19 to enrich themselves. We must repeat that the 4% salary increment is an insult to Ghanaian workers.

LEGACY ARREARS

The statement made by the government last year that all legacy arrears owed teachers has been cleared was just a falsehood. We still have over Sixty Three Thousand (63,000) teachers across the country owed the legacy arrears.

Is it because we are not in the profession to become millionaires that is why the government is adamant in paying our legitimate salary arrears? We are of a firm belief that given what is due us we will become billionaires and not even millionaires. We are calling President Nana Addo, to as a matter of urgency make sure we are paid our arrears with interest.

RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWANCE

The majority of our colleagues who are supposed to be enjoying responsibility allowance are denied because those in affairs don’t care about them. A country that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.

Teachers who have genuinely qualified and are supposed to be given what is due them are having a torrid time processing their documents for the monies to be paid. What is more alarming is that the payment of arrears has been thrown to the dogs.

EXTENSION OF WORKING HOURS

The Ghana Education Service should consult the teacher Unions in the implementation of its decisions. How come they extended the closing time from 2:00 PM TO 3:00 PM without the consent of the Unions? If Ghana Education Service is breaching its own Code of Conduct, would they punish someone else for doing the same?

THE STANDARD-BASED CURRICULUM

The Standard-Based Curriculum which was introduced almost three (3) years ago is still with challenges as follows;

Inadequate relevant teaching and learning resources to aid the new curriculum. The teacher Resource Pack contains sample lesson notes, termly, weekly and daily forecasts. Anybody who tells you the Resource Pack is enough for teaching and learning is a cork in the wheel of progress.

As we speak, there is a gap in the implementation of the Standard-Based Curriculum because those at the Junior High Schools are not implementing it as planned. The Textbooks supplied to the schools have been withdrawn.

Our word of advice to Dr, Prince Armah the former NACCA boss is that, in as much as we appreciate him for the great work done in the Standard-Based Curriculum he should desist from making unpalatable comments to justify the delay in the supply of textbooks to primary schools.

As teachers, we are committed to seeing our students become great men and women in future and as such, all the necessary materials needed to aid understanding among our learners should be provided by the government.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLOWANCE

Ghanaian teachers were paid a lump sum of 1,200 Ghana Cedis as professional development allowance. The position of the government was that this allowance will be paid to teachers on monthly basis.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Teachers have not been paid the allowance from January 2021 till date. We are, however, calling on the government to keep to the promise made in order to forestall future unrest because we are struggling to pay for workshops.

PROPOSED ALLOWANCES

We demand the payment of the following allowances by the government as other sectors are enjoying.

Rent Allowance
Allowance for form masters at the JHS and for Class teachers at the primary school.
Risk allowance
Research allowance
Allowance for teachers in deprived communities.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

There are discrepancies and discrimination with the payment of retirement benefits to teachers in recent times as compared to what happened in the past.

If this is not a poor way of treating retirees, then, we do not really know how to term it. Our retirees are worse off in recent times and no one seems to care. SSNIT is now killing teacher retirees slowly.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are hopeful if all these issues are addressed within the shortest time teachers would have the peace of mind to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities.

As we bring this press conference to an end, we must say that we are highly disappointed in Madam Philippa Larson’s leadership as our national president. To Mr.Thomas Musah, our General Secretary, he started so well but is now in a hibernating mood and must wake up before we call for his removal from the post.

To those who are planning to contest in national positions in the Union, they should advice themselves if they know they are not ready to serve the interest of teachers when voted for because we will come after them with a great force.

We are concluding with the quote by Guy Kawasaki, “If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are the society’s heroes”

Once again, we thank you all for coming!
Thank you.

Signed:
Conveners
Mathias Tulasi 0243735430

Alfred Avorfodi 0201584617

Heletsi Christopher 0243277764

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