The National Association of Graduate Teachers is asking the government to demonstrate that it is truly committed to teacher’s welfare by paying them well. NAGRAT wants authorities to use the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, which is being observed across the globe Tuesday, to honour promises to give teachers good pay. Teachers’ Day is marked on September 5 each year to draw attention to the importance of the profession. Some 84 teachers will be honoured at the Best Teachers’ award ceremony at Koforidua in the Eastern Region today. NAGRAT President, Christian Addae-Poku, wants the government to give priority attention to issues affecting teachers if it desires to see improvement in education standards. He said the nation must move away from the double standards where the importance of the teacher is widely acknowledged, “but when it comes to paying the teacher, the first statement that is made is that ‘they are too many. There are over 270,000 teachers in this country and the budget of this country cannot sustain any enhancement in salaries and other improved conditions of service.’” He warned that if the nation wants quality education, it must be prepared to pay for it. Meanwhile Vice President John Mahama has entreated teachers to accept postings to rural areas. He was speaking at a meeting at the Castle with some of the nominees for Best Teacher awards. The Vice-President said the refusal forced school authorities to recruit untrained teachers to engage pupils – a situation he said cannot be the best. Source: Joy News/Ghana