Extension of Instructional Hours unacceptable and against the Code of Conduct – Teacher Unions to GES

Teacher Unions in the Ghana Education Service (GES) have written to the GES informing their employer of their displeasure concerning the extension of instructional hours for school without a consensus between both parties as enshrined in the code of conduct.

The letter was dated August 23, 2021, to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

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Read the Letter Below:

LETTER FROM GNAT TO GES ON EXTENSION OF INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS.

TO ALL HEADS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS: EXTENSION OF INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS IN ALL PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS

Our attention has been drawn to a circular from the Municipal Director of Education, New Juaben South, in the Eastern Region, titled: TO ALL HEADS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS: EXTENSION OF INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS IN ALL PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS,

Informing the Heads that Instructional hours in all public Basic Schools in the Municipality at all levels have been extended, with the schools to now start classes at 8.00 hours GMT, and close at 15.00 hours GMT, effective Monday, 23rd August 2021, until otherwise directed.

We find this directive unacceptable, and against the letter and spirit of Article 3.3 of the Code of Conduct for Staff of the Ghana Education Service, specifically,

a) Article 3.3(i) which reads: Working hours per day shall be as prescribed by Law,

b) Article 3.3(ii): Contact hours for staff and time for reporting for duty shall be determined through negotiations by GES and the Unions, and

c) Article 3.3(iv): A staff may be required to work beyond the required time in certain circumstances to be determined by the head, or GES and the Unions.

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Further, the circular offends Section 13 of the Collective Agreement for Staff within the Ghana Education Service (GES), August 2020, specifically, Section 13.2 which stipulates that: All other Conditions of Work shall be determined by a Joint Negotiating Committee, made up of ten (10) persons each from the Government Team and the Union. They include (i) Hours of work, Contact hours…

We again refer to the Press Statement of the Pre-tertiary Education Unions (GNAT, NAGRAT and CCT-Gh), of 10th August 2021, and the item on Contact and Working Hours, in which we reminded the Ghana Education Service, that hours teachers are required to work per day and per week should be determined by the Ghana Education Service and the Teacher Unions, as required by the Collective Agreement.

We are not sure whether the directive is general for all schools across the country, or an initiative of the New Juaben South Directorate of Education on its own accord, and whatever reason.

Whatever it is, the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT, finds it a breach of Union trust and practice within the Code of Conduct for staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES), both documents being the regulatory frameworks for education in the country.

In the light of the above, we find the directive arbitrary and an imposition, since it has not arisen out of any consultations between the concerned parties (i.e. the Ghana Education Service and the Unions). We, therefore, call for its immediate withdrawal and to serve notice that any attempt to force it on teachers would be resisted fiercely.

We hope the Ghana Education Service would see reason, and listen to us accordingly, to engender industrial peace in the country.

For ease of reference, enclosed, please find, photocopies of the relevant stipulations of the Code of Conduct for the Staff of the Ghana Education Service, the Collective Agreement for Teaching Staff within the Ghana Education Service (GES), a portion of the Press Statement referred to, and the circular from the New Juaben South Directorate of Education.

Please treat it as urgent!

Yours faithfully,

Thomas Tanko Musah General Secretary

Ce: The National Officers, GNAT

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