Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) wants the National Teaching Council (NTC) and District Directors of Education to cease compelling teachers to attend fee-paying Continuous Professional Development Programmes (CPDPs). 

President of GNAT, Ms. Phillipa Larson cautioned the NTC to work within its mandate as an advisory body to the Minister responsible for Education. 

“The National Council endorses the leadership of the Association’s opposition to the National Teaching Council arrogating to itself the Continuous Professional Development of Teachers, which is the onus of the employer.

“The National Council endorses again, the leadership of the Association’s call on the National Teaching Council to stay within its mandate as an advising body to the Minister of Education on matters relating to professional standing, licensing of teachers, and coordinating and harmonizing the effective and efficient basic and senior high education in the country,” she said. 

This was contained in a communique issued and signed by Ms. Phillipa Larson. at the end of their National Executive Council meeting held at the Teachers’ Village in Abankro, in the Ejisu-Juaben municipality of the Ashanti Region.

She again called on the ruling NPP government to fulfill its promise of providing decent accommodation for teachers. 

“The National Council calls on Government to provide decent accommodation for teachers as promised in the 2016 manifesto of the New Patriotic Party, as well as the 2017 government budget. We can no longer wait for the realization and fulfilment of this promise, which has been outstanding five solid years down the line. We are, therefore, looking forward eagerly to it, soonest, in the collective interest of both the Unions and government” she said.

The National President lauded the Controller and Account Generals Department (CAGD) for backtracking on its initial decision to withhold salaries of public servants who are non-Ghana card users.

An earlier statement from the department indicated that all workers on government payroll who had not registered with the National Identification Authority will not be paid, effective December 1, 2021. 

Meanwhile, GNAT is appalled by CAGD’s failure to pay the Tier 2 pension contributions of teachers from July to October, 2021. 

The Association is therefore entreating the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to ensure swift payment of the monthly contribution and its associated 3% penalty for July-September, 2021. 

“The Association notes with dismay, the failure of Controller and Accountant Generals Department to remit the Tier 2 contribution of members for the months of July, August, September, October 2021, to the Ghana Education Service Occupational Pension Scheme (GESOPS) in contravention of section 96(2) and 64 of the Pensions Act, 2008, Act 766, which enjoins the CAGD to remit the tier 2 contributions within fourteen days from the end of each month and therefore draws the attention of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to this anomaly of the Ministry of Finance to ensure the prompt payment of member - monthly contribution (and the associated 3% per centum penalty for the July, August September 2021 delayed payments) without further delay,” she said. 

Additionally, the National President called on the National Labour Commission to expedite actions in resolving issues relating to the conditions of service of teachers in Ghana. 

“We call on the National Labour Commission to prevail on the Employer and all who matter to address the issues bordering on the collective agreement and the conditions of service of teachers, which in effect affects their performance and wellbeing, as highlighted by the Unions, in their press statement of 10th August 2021, as placed before the commission by National Security, addressed expeditiously to avert any ripples in the education front,” she said. 

She again called on GES to take immediate steps to resolve the outstanding issues concerning the provision of teachers on the junior ranks (Snr Supt. II- Snr Supt. I), essentially the 2015 and 2016 year groups. 

Ms. Larson further emphasized that GNAT is unhappy with the recent detestable behaviors by some students towards school authorities and teachers. 

She, therefore, advised students to be decorous and respectful in every regard. 

“The National Council registers its abhorrence to the unruly behaviour being demonstrated by students in some schools towards school authorities, teachers and themselves (sometimes resulting in needless injury and death) in recent times. 

“Council finds this attitude not only uncouth but barbaric and therefore calls on students to demonstrate some modicum of respect, moral certitude, tolerance and decorum towards school authorities, with teachers and themselves; they should learn to co-exist peacefully with one another and save their teachers, parents and the country in general from unnecessary consternation, fear, panic, and security. 

“They should assure society and all, that they are our hope for the future,” she said.

She reiterated that “the proper status of teachers should be recognised by the government, parents, and the general public, and teachers paid the required due regard, since they are critical stakeholders of society tasked to shape the minds and personalities of the youth for leadership roles in future.” 

She is therefore calling for the promotion of close cooperation between teachers and parents to safeguard teachers against assault and battery by parents, guardians, and the general public.