Teacher appeals to government to center on teachers

Ho, Jan. 08, GNA - Mr. Dan Yorgbe, the Volta Regional Chairman of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), has called on the government to change from "pupil centred educational reform" to "teacher centered educational reform" to make this year a " trouble free" year for education.

He said government interventions for pupils such as infrastructure improvement, the capitation grant and the school feeding programme have little to offer the new educational reform if academic competence of teachers is not considered.

Mr Yorgbe said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the weekend on the way forward for teachers in the year after agitating for so many things including better conditions of service last year. He said enough focus had been given to pupils over the years and underscored the need for the academic ability of teachers to be improved through workshops and seminars.

Mr. Yorgbe was optimistic that 2007 would be a good academic year but called for a better supervisory mechanism to be put in place to ensure effectiveness in the new education system. He commended the government for heeding to the concerns of teachers and said things and issues agitated for were being given "positive attention".

Mr Yorgbe expressed the hope that the New Year would witness an improved relationship between teachers and the government. 08 Jan 07