John Mahama Meets Teacher Unions

NDC presidential candidate, John Mahama, has plans to resolve issues of teachers as he meets the various teacher unions in Ghana at the NAGRAT Headquarters in Accra.

The meeting served as a platform for discussing key educational reforms and finalizing the party’s manifesto ahead of the upcoming elections. The meeting was held on Sunday, 21st April, 2024.

 Issues Discussed At The Meets At the John Mahama Meets Teacher Unions Meeting

During the meeting, John Mahama  outlined several pivotal points aimed at revitalizing the education sector:

1. Educational Reform

John Mahama stressed the urgency of conducting a comprehensive educational reform within the first 100 days of assuming office, highlighting the indispensable role of teachers in driving national policy reforms.

2. Language of Instruction

A significant focus will be placed on adopting the ‘first language’ as the medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Basic 3. Additionally, there are plans to train more teachers proficiently in major local languages to enhance teaching and learning experiences at the basic levels.

3. Promotion of Reading

To cultivate a culture of reading among students, the candidate proposed the construction of additional libraries and the resumption of providing reading materials and textbooks for all basic schools.

4. Financial Priorities

Ensuring the timely disbursement of the capitation grant to education directorates and schools emerged as a priority. The candidate also pledged to eliminate the capping and collateralization of the GETFUND while reinstating the distribution of free sanitary pads in schools.

5. Infrastructure Development

The revival of abandoned Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) facilities and E-blocks will be prioritized to alleviate overcrowding in schools and enhance the quality of education.

6. Free SHS Policy

A comprehensive review and enhancement of the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy will be undertaken to address existing challenges. Additionally, the integration of TVET and STEM programs into all secondary schools will be mainstreamed.

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The dialogue underscored the commitment of the NDC presidential candidate to collaborate closely with teacher unions and other stakeholders in formulating effective policies for the education sector.

In concluding remarks, the candidate expressed gratitude to all participating teacher unions for their invaluable contributions and emphasized the collective endeavor to build a more inclusive and robust education system for the nation’s youth and the future of Ghana.

The dialogue signifies a significant step towards shaping the educational landscape in Ghana and fostering collaborative efforts to address critical challenges in the sector.

In a recent development, the three major pre-tertiary teacher unions in Ghana, namely the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-Ghana), have jointly voiced their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of negotiations concerning the conditions of service for their members.

The unions have raised concerns regarding what they perceive as the government’s lackluster approach to the ongoing negotiations. They assert that despite directives to cease their industrial action, the government’s response has been inadequate, leaving the unions disillusioned with the process.

According to a statement issued by the union leaders, the negotiations have thus far failed to yield any substantial results. Of particular disappointment is the apparent lack of authority among government representatives to address the demands put forth by the unions.

In light of these developments, the unions have issued a cautionary statement to both the public and the government. They emphasize that should tensions escalate within the pre-tertiary education sector, the blame should not fall solely on the shoulders of the teacher union leaders.

This discontent follows a recent industrial action initiated by the teacher unions, which commenced on March 20, 2024. However, the strike was subsequently called off approximately two weeks later in compliance with an injunction obtained by the National Labour Commission (NLC).

The unions’ decision to strike stemmed from several grievances, including the lack of a Continuous Professional Development Allowance, deprived area allowance, transport and commitment allowance, rent/housing allowance, and teaching/assessment allowance.

Despite the setback, the President of CCT-Ghana, King Awudu Ali, has called upon the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to resume negotiations promptly. He stresses the importance of expediting discussions to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

Reverend Isaac Owusu, speaking on behalf of the unions, highlighted the failure of the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to address critical issues affecting teachers’ effectiveness. These issues include the renegotiation of a Collective Agreement and the implementation of a functional Scheme of Service for Teachers.

As negotiations remain at an impasse, the teacher unions continue to advocate for the rights and welfare of their members. Their unified stance underscores the importance of addressing the grievances of educators to ensure the quality of education in Ghana’s pre-tertiary institutions.