GNAT Day

Accra, Oct 1, GNA - The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on Wednesday said individuals, companies and communities should be free to organize their health insurance schemes to satisfy their peculiar environment requirements.

Mr Kwame Amo-Darko, President of the Association, who was launching this year's World Teacher's Day in Accra said though the scheme was worthwhile to pursue, GNAT was however, not comfortable with the aspect of funding of the scheme and with other related operational issues which required discussion and clarification. He said GNAT definitely rejected any attempt by government to make any incursions into workers contributions to the SSNIT fund without proper consultation.

2.5 per cent SSNIT contribution by workers towards the funding of the NHIS.

Mr Amo-Darko said realities on the implementation of the SSNIT pension in 1970s continued to haunt workers and wondered if the NHIS would not be another Trojan horse if concerns raised on its implementation were not taken on board.

Mr Amo-Darko appealed to the government to reconsider the key concerns raised for further discussions and possible amendment of the law and its incorporation in the legislative instrument.

Mr Amo-Darko said GNAT's petition via a memorandum sent to government for an enhanced SSNIT pension benefit or restoration of Cap 30 to workers had not received the desired positive response.

Teachers could not give up the fight at this stage for an enhanced retired benefit and government had shown its lack of capacity to regulate fees to senior secondary schools to the dismay of students, guardians/parents and school authorities, he said.

Mr Amo-Darko said there was therefore, the need to expand and improve facilities throughout the education system from basic, through tertiary, adding that GNAT was still awaiting the publication of the full report of the presidential review committee on the education reforms.

He said, "without teachers, education would not be what it is meant to be because to teach was not simply to tell a child established facts and figures but to inspire, unlock his or her potential, to nurture to offer new perspectives, help children and adults realize their dreams to build a better world".

He said teachers needed specialisation and formal academic certification in BECE and GNAT was insisting that government should facilitate distance education and other forms of continuing programmes as well as upgrading facilities and work on the certification at the initial Teacher Training Colleges.

The Teachers' Day, which comes off at the Kumasi Jackson Park on Monday, October 6 this year, would be observed with the GNAT week, under the theme: "Teachers: Opening Doors To A Better World."

Activities lined up for the Day included a durbar of teachers on October 4, where twenty GNAT activists, who have distinguished themselves in the affairs of the Association would be honoured.

Other activities would be a Thanksgiving Church Service to be held at the Sunyani Methodist Church, and school uniforms and learning materials would also be presented to 20 selected needy pupils from the Ashanti Region.