Government Urged To seek Welfare Of New Teachers

Accra,(Greater Accra) 24, Oct. The Teacher Trainees' Association of Ghana (TTAG) has asked the government to find means of alleviating hardships faced by newly-posted teachers. These include accommodation and the long delay in getting new teachers onto the pay-roll. This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the second annual delegates' congress of the association at Kibi. "As a temporary measure, we propose that while the process of placing newly-trained teachers on the pay-roll is on, they should continue to receive the allowances they were receiving at college", the communique said. The association called on its members to accept postings to places their services are required, but appealed to the relevant authorities to help address the daunting problems of new teachers in order to make their stay and contribution to the programme meaningful. They commended the government for initiating the Free Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme, but indicated that its success will depend on the elimination of the basic problems facing teacher trainee colleges. The TTAG said it views the programme, which is in fulfilment of Article 38 section two of the 1992 constitution, as an important national exercise which must be pursued to a successful end at all cost. The association urged the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that the programme avails itself of the experience and expertise of important stakeholders including the universities, Conference of Principals of Teacher Training Colleges and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT). The communique said TTAG is studying various aspects of the programme and will be making its views known in due course.