Our teachers can’t teach English

The Director in-charge of the Teacher Education Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr. Samuel Ansah, has regretted that many of the teachers holding diploma certificates cannot handle Mathematics, Science and English Language at the Upper Primary and Junior High School levels.

He said the upgrading of Colleges of Education to the tertiary level would be of no benefit to the nation, if the products are not of the quality that would impact positively on the quality of education at the basic schools, to adequately prepare pupils and students for higher education.

Mr. Ansah stressed that half-baked diploma certificate holders would not be tolerated, since stakeholders were closely watching to criticise, not only teachers, but the entire educational system.

According to him, the performance of diploma holders should definitely be above that of a certificate holder, and that it was a major challenge confronting education in the country.

The Director, who was speaking on the theme ‘Finding Solutions to Education Crisis: Role of Stakeholders and Young Educators,’ at the maiden National Youth Summit of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Ho, said it was unfortunate that the competencies of many newly-trained diploma holders were questionable.

Mr. Ansah noted that teachers who were hard working, rather seemed to be more interested in pursuing further studies than paying their due as teachers trained to lay a sound foundation for the younger generation.

He pointed out that the GES was now faced with the task of rising the competencies of a large number of newly trained diplomat holders, as well as increasing their level of commitment, and urged teachers, particularly the young ones, to endeavour to be self-motivated, in order to become confident to deliver in their chosen profession.

Mr. Ansah stressed that consolidating the gains made towards full tertiary status at the teacher training institutions, called for greater discipline at the various institutions, because academic progress and excellence could be achieved when discipline reigns supreme.

He addd that the demands of some students at the teacher training institutions, protesting that they should be left alone to lead their lives, because they were in tertiary institutions, would not be possible. “Rights go with responsibilities, so please endeavour to respect the code of discipline for teacher trainees until a new code is put in place when full tertiary status is achieved,” he said.

Mr. Ansah said the government and the Ministry of Education recognised it as a duty and responsibility to ensure that teachers were properly motivated to offer the type of committed and dedicated services expected of them, noting that teacher motivation and efficiency were paramount and key factors in the educational quality the nation desires.

He, however, said teacher motivation ought not to be seen only to be about money, but everything that goes to improve the teacher’s life in the classroom, and out of the school environment, and that adequate teaching and learning materials were relevant in the motivational efforts of the teacher.

The Deputy General Secretary of GNAT in charge of Administration, Organisation and Labour Relations, Mr. Awotwe Nkansah, said his outfit was mindful about the development of young teachers, and that was why the National Executives had formulated a Youth Policy to deal especially with the youth.

Mr. Ansah continued that the policy provides a framework and practical guidelines for national, regional, district and local programmes to provide support that would improve the situation of teachers with emphasis on young teachers in GNAT, which had five year youth development priority areas, which include professional development, economic and welfare facilities.

The Volta Regional Chairman of GNAT, Mr. Alex Mawusi Kofi Boadi, said the five day youth summit of the young teachers was very historic in the 80 year history of GNAT, and urged them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available for them to enhance their lives.