Association of retired professional teachers inaugurated

Accra, Sept 24, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, on Thursday asked retired professional teachers to assist in creating an enabling environment for the enhancement of teaching and learning in schools in the country.

"As retired teachers, you should be the first to recognise that new challenging situations are currently being created on our educational landscape which demand well-trained and experienced teachers as well as seasoned educationists", Mr Tettey-Enyo said. Inaugurating the Association of Retired Professional Teachers of Ghana (ARPTOG) in Accra, the Minister said members had a vital role to play in helping promote the best education Ghana could provide its children.

ARPTOG is a voluntary, non-profit making and non-partisan association established by pre-tertiary retired teachers to ensure members' welfare and to assist in policy formulation in education. Inaugurated under the theme "Quality Education: The Role of the Retired Professional Teacher," the Association has as its slogan "Retired but not Tired". Mr Tettey-Enyo noted that the Ministry of Education would need the Association's expertise in curriculum development, guidance and counselling and on school development as a whole. He urged members who had the flare for writing to engage themselves in text-book development schemes, early childhood development and training of care-givers.

Mrs Rose Helen Ankrah, Chairperson of the Association, said committees would be created to keep members abreast with current trends at the pre-tertiary level, to enable them to make education relevant to the felt needs of Ghanaians.

The Committee shall also collate information on all complaints and disaffections and approach the appropriate authorities and agencies for rectification on behalf of members. The Very Reverend Ama Afo Blay, former Director-General, Ghana Education Service who doubled as a chaplain of the Association, inducted members of the Executive Committee into office for a two-year term.