A Press Statement By Coaliation Of Concern Teachers In Upper West

A Press Statement By Coaliation Of Concern Teachers In Upper West, REGION IN RESPONSE TO A PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY “FACE THE FACTS” A GROUP OF NDC TEACHERS IN UPPER WEST REGION YESTERDAY. DATE: 23/11/2011

Friends of the media fraternity, fellow citizens of Ghana, colleague teachers, Ladies and gentlemen, this press statement could not have come at a better time than now that an NDC propagandists group of teachers who want to portray to the whole nation that teachers are now better off under this regime.

We members of this group wish to disassociate ourselves from this press conference, because it is never a true reflection of the realities in this noble profession of ours. What really are the concerns about this so called face the facts press conference. Because there is nothing factual about what they read yesterday; Teachers experiencing an uninterrupted and quantum leaps in their salaries, brutalities meted to teachers by previous government, study leave with pay,15% Retention Premium among others.

These assertions are not the facts but fictions, packed of lies and a sheer propaganda that cannot be substantiated. And stand the test of time. TAIKING ABOUT QUANTUM LEAPS AND UNINTERRUPTED SALARIES without telling us what we used to earn previously under Ghana Universal salary Structure (GUSS) and presently under Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)is baseless and luck facts

WHAT ARE THE FACTS?

At the moment professional teachers who completed colleges of education last year numbering over 200 in upper west have not been paid their actual salary for the past fifteen (15) months and same can be seen across the whole country. Should teachers be happy with this?

We were in this country when the government said they will use four (4) years in the payment of areas for single spine salary structure not even to mention of the recent 20% increment.

To talk about brutalities method on teachers by the electives NPP government; is should quite unfortunate, because it is still fresh and lingering in our minds and memory that in recent demonstrations across the country after migrating teachers unto the single spine salary structure (ssss). Teachers witnessed merciless brutalities especially in Kumasi and Accra at our own Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) halls.

Better still, the proof John Evans Atta Mills government promised to review the quarter system of study Leave with pay when they come to power. As at now, they have endorsed the system and has since not talked about it. For us the NPP administration should be on their back for introducing the quota system. Last but not the lease, the earlier we stop talking about 15% Retention Premium the better, because professional allowance has just been substituted for the so called teachers Retention premium. Even with this teachers had to protest amidst police brutalities. This is because a teacher led government has paid the police better than his former colleagues.

In a nutshell our position is not condemn or sing songs of praises, but to urge government to be proactive in dealing with education, because most governments policies with regards to education has often been dillydallied. Politics indeed should be separated from the education of our children. Just as the Christian Council has recently remarked.

Teachers should on the other hand not betray our leaders who are still struggling to champion the course to better the lives of teachers. Also, we should be mindful not to undermine the intelligence of the teacher’s leadership – GNAT, AND NAGRAT. Seriously teacher should dare not tickle themselves and Laugh.

Notwithstanding the above; it will be unfair for any serious minded teacher to compare the 3 years rule of professors Atta Mills to that of the 8 years rule of Former president John A. Kuffuor. In terms of Teacher capacity building, physical infrastructural development, and even policy direction. The recent results from all senior High schools across the country is a clear manifestation of the Kuffour led NPP achievement.

Conclusively, the state of the teacher at the moment still needs a lot more to be desired, so other teachers, in the name of politics should not exploit teacher’s plight for their parochial interest. Thank you.

By KHALID MOHAMMED SUADIQUE

Spokes person for the group

TEL; 0247868373/026925000