The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has sounded a clarion call to the Ghana Education Service and the Education Ministry to let teachers work with freedom.
The Acting President of GNAT, Philippa Larsen, expressed her displeasure with the “current posture of GES management to sidestep due process in addressing disciplinary issues.”
Speaking to Joy News’ Evans Mensah on Newsnight Thursday, she called on GES Council to reconsider the way it intervenes in matters at the various schools.
Madam Larsen said it is timely to celebrate Thursday’s World Teachers Day on the theme ‘Teaching in Freedom’ as that empowers them to do their work.
“Teaching in freedom simply means that as the teacher is being celebrated, he/she should be empowered in the area of resources and materials they need to do their work,” she said.
She added that teacher’s motivation, promotion, and disciplinary issues must be consultative and follow due procedure and such issues must not be left to the whims and caprices of the GES and the Education Ministry.
According to her, teachers are not teaching in freedom, citing the Prempeh College incidence where some 51 non-performing students were repeated but the GES and the Education Ministry came out with directives to promote them.
She charged government not to compromise on quality as it has rolled out its flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.
“While commending government for the initiative, challenges that occur in the implementation should be handled with circumspection for optimum benefits.
“The Unions in education prefers a relationship with government that hinges on consultation, collaborations, and cooperation as it implements its policy,” she said.
