The Chairman of the Kumasi Metro­politan branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Victor deGraft-Etsison, has expressed concern about the level of poverty among teachers, as a result of the poor salary and remuneration they have received over the years. He has, on behalf of the Kumasi branch of GNAT, charged the national executives of the ­association to make adequate inputs into the single spine salary structure before its implementation to eliminate any form of discrimination against teachers as:had been experienced in other salary structures. "Membership wishes to indicate to leadership that, teachers will only accept a salary scheme or reward system which is devoid of discrimination against teachers as experienced before. We demand that the new salary arrangement ensures absolute fairness and will not jeopardise the social aspirations and interest of teachers," they stressed. Mr deGraft-Etsison was speaking during the maiden familiarisation visit of GNAT national executives to Kumasi. He noted that failure of the national association to make adequate inputs towards the welfare of teachers and salvage their image could be used by other splinter groups to persuade most of their members to quit the association "The road map to its implementation must be strictly adhered to This time, the road must be a tarred one and must lead straight into our pockets," they demanded. Two teachers drawn from each basic school in the Kumasi metropolis assembled, at the GNAT Hall in Kumasi last Monday to have a fruitful interaction with the national executives where issues that bordered on smooth implementation of the single spine salary structure, SSNIT and Cap 30 pension schemes, problems of promotion and teachers welfare,among.others, were addressed. Mr deGraft -Etsison pointed out that since the "Ex-gratia of teachers largely depended on their in-gratia, teachers expected a better salary arrangements with good allowances to determine what they will take home when they retired". He commended. the former President of GNAT, Mr T. A. Bediako, and his committee for coming out with the three-tier pension scheme and urged the national executives to take up the responsi­bility for ensuring its implementation by the road map set". "Leadership must also be curious to know how SSNIT will handle the monthly payments for retirees, as well as for the arrangements that had been put in place for those outside the three-tier pension scheme net", he noted. On the promotion of teachers, the chairman hinted that "many qualified teachers are left out for various reasons, including mere oversight, for­getting that age is fast catching up with such mem­bers". He hinted that out of the two per cent basic salary of certificate 'A'-teachers deducted as dues by the GNAT, "only 0.05 per cent of the amount is used to cater for death and retirement benefits, resulting in the paymenr of GH¢200 for a retired teacher or a teacher who dies". He said it was time the benefits were reviewed upward for beneficiaries and their dependants to enable them enjoy better life, stressing that nonpayment of arrears, failure to place teachers on their appropriate ranks and levels, as well as a cuts in education budget which consequently affected their meagre allowances, still lingered and required the immediate intervention of the leader­ship. In his address,the President of the GNAT, Mr­ Joseph Kwaku Adjei, noted that the salary of teachers should not be viewed as an expenditure by policy makers, but should be regarded as an investment due to its long-term positive effect on sustainable national development. "Quality education rakes in the needed development for the nation. Let us therefore concede that we impoverish teachers at the peril the nation's development," he advised. He pointed out that the National Executives of GNAT were aware of the invaluable contribu­tions of teachers towards sustainable national development and the impediments they encountered in the course of their duty. He noted that since a fall in quality education would make more children drop out of school, there was the need for teachers to be remunerat­ed well to motivate them to offer their best to improve the standard of education in the country. On the single spine pay policy, Mr Adjei said since the January 2009 deadline could not be met, the government should compensate them by paying a comfortable increase during this year's salary negotiations. He noted that teachers had become desperate as a result of the recent hike in fuel prices and, therefore, appealed to the government to "imme­diately respond to organised labour's proposal urgent salary negotiations." Source: Daily Graphic