General News

GNAT calls on GES to legitimize New Collective Agreement by December 31

30th November 2019

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has finally called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that by December 31, 2019, a new Collective Agreement for its workers is negotiated, agreed upon by all parties involved and signed, to legitimize it, to replace the old one which expired since 2011.

The directive was contained in a communique issued by the National Council of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), during its Annual Council Meeting at the GNAT Village, Abankro, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.

The Council meeting was organized from the 19th to the 21st of November, 2019, to deliberate on critical issues affecting the Association, and the Education sector as a whole.

”The Ghana Education Service (GES) should ensure that by 31st December 2019, a new Collective Agreement for its workers is negotiated, agreed upon by all parties involved and signed, to legitimize it, to replace the old one which expired since 2011.”

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Promotions

The Council said the Ghana Education Service (GES) should engage stakeholders to discuss a common modality towards implementing the proposed Aptitude Test for promotion of staff of the Service.

The statement further said that the GES should expedite work on 2019 Promotion interviews to forestall the creation of a backlog of teachers waiting to be interviewed.

Teacher Licensing

Speaking on licensing of practising teachers and the cost elements, GNAT said the National Teaching Council (NTC) should conduct a wider stakeholder engagement on the issue of the fee to be paid by practising teachers for their licences.

Transfer Grant

On matters relating to Conditions precedent (50 kilometres and above) for the payment of transfer grants, GNAT said the GES should scrap the 50 or more kilometre radius as a condition for the payment of transfer grants.

Defending its reason for the call, the Ghana National Association of Teachers emphasized that every transfer goes with a cost.

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Payment of unrealistic wages and salaries

On the Payment of unrealistic wages and salaries to teachers and other workers of the Ghana Education Service, GNAT said the Government, through the Ghana Education Service (GES), should pay living wages and salaries to teachers and other workers of the Ghana Education Service.

New Standard-based Curriculum

Speaking on the Implementation of the New Standard-based Curriculum and its effects on teaching and learning outcomes, GNAT said the Ghana Education Service should organize more training sessions for teachers on the new standards-based curriculum to ensure its successful implementation.

Download 2019 GNAT Communique on Conditions of Service HERE

GES/SIC Group Insurance Policy

Describing it as a ‘forced’ implementation of the GES/SIC Group Insurance Policy on workers of the Ghana Education Service, GNAT said the GES/SIC deductions should be stopped immediately.

GNAT further indicated that forms should be made available for interested teachers to fill to join the policy to maintain industrial harmony and workplace peace.