Unit cost of Laptop is GH¢1,550 per contract not GH¢1,831.47 – GNAT

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has said that the unit cost of the government’s One Teacher One Laptop Initiative is GH¢1,550 per contract, not GH¢1,831.47  as being speculated by the Ghana Education Service(GES).

The Central Regional Chairman of GNAT, Rev Dr Isaac Owusu has said that the unit cost of the laptop is GH¢1,550.

He made this statement on Live FM on September 8, 2021.

The Contract

According to him, the contract document he has chanced upon indicated that the contract was signed between the Ministry of Education and the supply but not the GES.

He was surprised the GES could bring figures that contradict the actual cost of the laptop.

He further indicated that the Ministry of Education was responsible for the business communication in terms of the laptop purchase unless the GES communicates the same information for or on behalf of the Ministry.

Other Unions

Rev Owusu said it was unfortunate teacher Unions were contradicting themselves on the communication of the exact cost of the laptop because the unions were supposed to speak on the laptop issue with one voice.

Deductions

The GNAT Chairman further cautioned that the Union shall not allow the GES to deduct its members on any there cost apart from the contractual cost of GH¢1,550.

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Contradictions

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced a new cost of the famous ”One Teacher, One Laptop” Initiative against the cost being issued by the Deputy Education Minister.

The GES in a statement issued on September 9, 2021, indicates that the total cost of the Teacher Mate 1(TM1 ) Laptop per one is GH¢1,831.47.

The GES said the government absorbed GH¢1,282.30 While each teacher will pay GH¢549.44.

The GES added, that the teachers’ portion will be deducted from their Continous Professional Development Allowance (CPD) when paid and would be a one-off deduction.

Deputy Education Minister Rev John Ntim Fordjour has said that the exact cost if the One Teacher One Laptop initiative is GHC1,550.00

He made this revelation on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda on Citi FM on September 7, 2021.

According to a memo by the Coalition of Concerned Teachers to its members on September 6, 2021, The laptop costs GH¢1,550 and teachers are to pay 30% (Ghc 465) of the cost (Ghc 1,550)

The 30% shall be deducted from this year’s Teachers professional allowances and not from teachers’ salaries. The professional allowances are to be paid by September or October 2021.

NAGRAT’s Cost

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has released the exact cost of the Teachers’ Mate 1 Laptops

The Unions in a letter drafted by the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) Angel Agbe Caebonu on September 6, 2021, indicated, that the One Teacher One Laptop Project was the intervention of the three Unions.

According to him, the three unions suggested to the government to provide laptops to all teachers to aid in effective teaching through the application and use of ICT.

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Conditions and Terms

He added, that the Government through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service headed to the call of the Unions under some under listed conditions and terms.

1. That Government will facilitate the acquisitions of the laptops
2. The GES will ensure effective distribution of the Laptops
3. That there will be cost-sharing as follows;

a. Government paying 70%

b. Teacher Paying 30%

1. That the teacher’s 30% component will not be deducted from the teacher’s salary but paid through the professional allowance allocations.
2. That the computers provided become the property of the individual teacher.
3. That the Company KA. Technologies provide Training and after-sale service to the teachers.

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Breakdown of Cost

The breakdown of the Prices are as follows

1. Government GH¢1,282.03     –      70%
2. Teacher        GH¢549.44      –        30%

Total                 GH¢1,831.47    –      100%

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