GNAT Cautions GES Against Rationalization Exercise

Ghana National Association of Teachers

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Madam Irene Duncan -Adanusa has cautioned the Ghana Education Service (GES) to be mindful of the rationalization exercise for teachers, which started last year.

Madam Duncan-Adanusa noted that the rationalization exercise which is meant for evenly distribution of teachers should be done in a scientific way to ensure that it did not worsen the teacher-pupils' ratio where some schools would be denied the requisite teachers or even none at all.

The General Secretary of GNAT, who gave the caution at the closing ceremony of a two-day orientation workshop for 54 Volta Regional Council members and Secretaries of GNAT in Ho, stressed that "the rationalization of teachers started last year, to ensure that wherever there exist more teachers than needed, the excess is removed, but should be done with caution".

Madam Duncan-Adanusa called on the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAS) to show greater commitment in supporting education in their respective areas by putting in place proactive measures that would ensure that teachers posted to their areas would stay and work for the development of the people.

According to the GNAT General Secretary, lack of accommodation for teachers continued to pose a major challenge to posting of teachers to work particularly in the Municipal and District Assemblies. He noted that if the Assemblies would help in provision of accommodation for teachers, it would go a long way to reduce the accommodation problems associated with posting of teachers.

She, however, advised that much as the issues of improved conditions of service were crucial to teachers, equal attention would be given to professionalism as teachers ought to regularly upgrade their skills and knowledge to enable them to work more effectively to meet the high standards expected of them.

Touching on the issue of pension scheme for teachers, the GNAT General Secretary pointed out that the suggestion had created problems in many countries and hopped that same would not be experienced in the country, adding that pension scheme for teachers ought to be made very clear.

Madam Duncan -Adanusa urged GNAT leaders at various levels to adopt dynamic ways of doing things, in order to meet basic demands of the times.

She noted that GNAT leaders at the various districts should be accountable to the members to help mitigate complains from members, which could be addressed at that level.

Madam Duncan-Adanusa asked the 54 beneficiaries of the workshop to educate teachers who did not attend the workshop to be abreast with changing trends in their work.

The Volta Regional Chairman of GNAT and the First National Vice Chairman of GNAT, Mr. Alexander Mawusi Boadi, commended teachers in the region for their hard work and dedication to duty over the years.