GNAT HOLDS DELEGATES CONFERENCE
GNAT HOLDS DELEGATES CONFERENCE
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM. ISD GAMBAGA June 12, 2009
The East Mamprusi and Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District branches of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT have held their third quadrennial delegates confab at Gambaga in the Northern Region.
The confab which was themed “better schools today, better society tomorrow” gave GNAT members in the two districts the opportunity to share their concerns with their executives and district directors of education from both districts.
Mr. Haruna Laari, East Mamprusi District GNAT Chairman who delivered a speech to welcome members stated that teachers are key players in all aspects of Ghana’s development since they nurture all other professionals throughout various educational structures.
The GNAT Chairman admitted that though the association faced some challenges during the past years, it was also able to chalk some achievements including articulating members’ concerns and seeking redress for them.
The Northern Regional GNAT Secretary Mr. Joseph Bakpata Abu in message to the delegates disclosed that every year, GNAT negotiates with government for upwards adjustment of teachers’ salaries.
Accordingly, in 2006 when there were wide disparities in salaries of workers of same qualifications, the GNAT and other labour fronts met the government of that time to find solutions.
According to Mr.Bakpata, government then contracted consultants who put together a pay reform system known as the single spine salary structure which the then New Patriotic Party administration pledged to implement but which to date is not implemented. He was therefore dissatisfied with government’s attitude in handling the new pay reform system.
The regional GHAT secretary added that the meager salary paid teacher is a situation that has caused some teachers to abandon classrooms to do other jobs in order to supplement their incomes and this does not help the teaching and learning process.
He noted that teachers over the years have lost respect and regard from society and governments partly due to undesired attitudes by some members of the profession and also because government itself does not place premium on teachers as it does for other professionals.
Mr. Bakpata therefore asked GNAT members to adopt serious attitudes towards work noting if many students fail their exams, teachers will be held partly responsible.
The Mamprusi East district director of education, Mr. GBC Libiedem who also addressed the delegates said the teacher must first of all work before asking for better wages adding that the work of some teachers leaves much to be desired.
The director noted that only dedicated and committed teachers can guarantee a better tomorrow for today’s children. He said if children are not educated, they will grow to become wayward and society will definitely bear the consequences of their waywardness.
Mr. Libiedem also revealed that there are rampant reports of wrongful deductions made on teachers’ salaries in the two districts and advised teachers to secure their pay slips so that they don’t fall in the hands of miscreant colleagues who indulge in using pay slips other than their own to contract loans.
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM. ISD GAMBAGA June 12, 2009
The East Mamprusi and Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District branches of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT have held their third quadrennial delegates confab at Gambaga in the Northern Region.
The confab which was themed “better schools today, better society tomorrow” gave GNAT members in the two districts the opportunity to share their concerns with their executives and district directors of education from both districts.
Mr. Haruna Laari, East Mamprusi District GNAT Chairman who delivered a speech to welcome members stated that teachers are key players in all aspects of Ghana’s development since they nurture all other professionals throughout various educational structures.
The GNAT Chairman admitted that though the association faced some challenges during the past years, it was also able to chalk some achievements including articulating members’ concerns and seeking redress for them.
The Northern Regional GNAT Secretary Mr. Joseph Bakpata Abu in message to the delegates disclosed that every year, GNAT negotiates with government for upwards adjustment of teachers’ salaries.
Accordingly, in 2006 when there were wide disparities in salaries of workers of same qualifications, the GNAT and other labour fronts met the government of that time to find solutions.
According to Mr.Bakpata, government then contracted consultants who put together a pay reform system known as the single spine salary structure which the then New Patriotic Party administration pledged to implement but which to date is not implemented. He was therefore dissatisfied with government’s attitude in handling the new pay reform system.
The regional GHAT secretary added that the meager salary paid teacher is a situation that has caused some teachers to abandon classrooms to do other jobs in order to supplement their incomes and this does not help the teaching and learning process.
He noted that teachers over the years have lost respect and regard from society and governments partly due to undesired attitudes by some members of the profession and also because government itself does not place premium on teachers as it does for other professionals.
Mr. Bakpata therefore asked GNAT members to adopt serious attitudes towards work noting if many students fail their exams, teachers will be held partly responsible.
The Mamprusi East district director of education, Mr. GBC Libiedem who also addressed the delegates said the teacher must first of all work before asking for better wages adding that the work of some teachers leaves much to be desired.
The director noted that only dedicated and committed teachers can guarantee a better tomorrow for today’s children. He said if children are not educated, they will grow to become wayward and society will definitely bear the consequences of their waywardness.
Mr. Libiedem also revealed that there are rampant reports of wrongful deductions made on teachers’ salaries in the two districts and advised teachers to secure their pay slips so that they don’t fall in the hands of miscreant colleagues who indulge in using pay slips other than their own to contract loans.
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