Bolgatanga, Sept 12, GNA - Five Hundred and Sixty-Seven (567) professional graduate teachers, who have completed their studies and have submitted their posting forms to the Ghana Education Service (GES) have since not been assigned.

Mr Joseph Kwaku Adjei, National President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) said it was rather an irony that professional teachers who entered the Universities using their own resources because the quota system did not allow them to be paid for the four years had been refused posting after graduation.

"This is unfortunate, since the endemic shortage of professional teachers continue to undermine education in the country", he said. Mr Adjei was speaking in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, at the weekend, during the opening of a two day Third Quadrennial Regional Delegates Conference on the theme, 'The emerging challenges in the teaching profession in Ghana- The way Forward'.

He explained that the names of the teachers were deleted from the pay roll when their salaries ceased, because they did their respective courses without study leave and according to a GES policy, such teachers could not be reposted.

The GNAT President appealed to the Government and GES to review the policy to allow the country benefit from the full capacity of its teachers.

He expressed his concern about the shortage of teachers in Science, English language and the Technical subjects, saying, "If we are very serious with educational matters in this country, the quota system that regulates study leave for teachers will not include these specialized subject areas. The present quota system, as it operates, continues to render efforts towards quality education useless.

Mr Adjei noted that there was too much political interference in certain areas of the GES and said GNAT would resist any attempt by any political office holder to circumvent laid down processes of recruiting, posting and transferring teachers. GNAT also had grievance handling procedure by which all employees who contravened the code of discipline are subjected to, in order to ensure fairness to all.

Commenting on the pension scheme for teachers, Mr Adjei said it was welcome news that the National Pension Scheme, which was put on hold was slowly getting back on its feet and appealed to government to make it "a bit high" so that the hard working teachers "would have something meaningful to carry on after retirement".

He said those who were not lucky enough to get the Cap 30 pension on retirement, had to do with the small amounts of money given by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

"This issue concerning pensions is a serious one because it affects the lives of thousands of dedicated and loyal Ghanaians who have sacrificed their all to train human resources that this country needs for its development. These people should not be made to weep when they retire", he said. On the image of teachers, he challenged all teachers to see themselves as professionals playing a very significant role in national development and not to often refer to themselves as poor teachers who cannot afford anything.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Regional Director of GES Mr Gregory Amoah, announced that Government had allocated an amount of GHC1.7 billion to implement various incentive packages to motivate teachers. The package include, 20 per cent increase in salaries for teachers in rural and deprived areas, Increased salaries for teachers in technical and vocational education, Science and Mathematics teachers among others.

He called on teachers to work effectively so as to play a benefiting complementary role and support government by efficiently implementing policies in Education.

"I wish to assure your Association that the Government is open to consultation on issues of National importance. It is therefore my belief that your Association has a great contribution to make in shaping the destiny of our educational system", he told the teachers.

Mr Paul Apanga, Upper East Chairman of GNAT expressed his concern about teachers and pupils in Bawku not having a conducive environment to teach and learn and that could affect the children's education. He called on all the people in the Bawku Municipality, to consider the future of their children and put a stop to the violence so that the young ones could get uninterrupted schooling. 12 Sept. 09