I get sick when POTAG members call themselves lecturers instead of instructors. Those who teach scholars are lecturers whilst the polytechnic teachers who are supposed to teach practitioners are supposed to be called instruct ... read full comment
I get sick when POTAG members call themselves lecturers instead of instructors. Those who teach scholars are lecturers whilst the polytechnic teachers who are supposed to teach practitioners are supposed to be called instructors. This display of ignorance by POTAG must stop. If not in Ghana how can academicians be entrusted with the management of polytechnics. No wonder our polytechnics are not being respected.
C.Y. ANDY-K 9 years ago
Why don't u stick to the serious topic under discussion? People like you make me very sick too!
Andy-K
Why don't u stick to the serious topic under discussion? People like you make me very sick too!
Andy-K
IDRIS PACAS 9 years ago
This paragraph is lifted verbatim from your write-up:
The Book and Research allowance constitute part of the tools, equipment, machinery or learning materials to aid the Lecturer in performing his or her day-to-day activit ... read full comment
This paragraph is lifted verbatim from your write-up:
The Book and Research allowance constitute part of the tools, equipment, machinery or learning materials to aid the Lecturer in performing his or her day-to-day activities as teachers. Therefore, its basic purpose is not necessarily to aid or help the Lecturer to conduct publishable or developmental research. Although at some material moment the lecturer can use it to pay publication fees for research work, it is basically considered as a tool to help in the acquisition of instructive knowledge.
You're disgracing lecturers. Your argument takes away the basics of what makes teaching a profession. A person in ONLY employed to teach when s/he has the required qualification to teach/lecture at a given level. Having to consult books and other materials before going to teach/lecture is the reason why teachers/lecturers are paid monthly salaries.
Remember that teachers at JHS and SHS also prepare by buying and reading books. (Govt supplied textbooks are not sufficient for teachers.) By your claims, every teacher is entitled to BRA and not only Potag/Utag.
Remember that nearly all the research you people undertake have findings which are non-applicable to Ghana. We have seen or read them. Spare us time! Again, most of the research projects are donor-funded.
No reasonable govt will continue giving huge sums of monies to lecturers to be buying books and other publications from their colleagues in other countries.
Allowances are paid for work done or to be done. If the work is not being done, the allowances can be withdrawn. Common sense supports this.
Nearly all of you (Potag)members are just holders of master's degree. Even when lecturing up to 1000 plus students, Potag members have TAs to do much of the marking and other tasks for them. Yet you receive about 4 times the salaries earned by teachers at SHS who have the same qualification and even do more work than you do. Are you aware?
The only difference is the research that you must conduct and books that you must publish. Provide evidence of this work to justify the allowances. Merely having it as a component of your terms of conditions is what has been amended by default or by common sense.
C.Y. ANDY-K 9 years ago
The fact that the Mahama regime was, as usual, inept in handling the abrogation of these farcical allowances doesn't make them right and proper and should be continued.
In fact, I was among the first to comment on the gov ... read full comment
The fact that the Mahama regime was, as usual, inept in handling the abrogation of these farcical allowances doesn't make them right and proper and should be continued.
In fact, I was among the first to comment on the govt's mishandling of this case. I had written earlier in a comment which I am actually adding some meat to it into a series:
"Since writing the piece on the book and research allowances brouhaha in Ghana, the Polytechnic lecturers have been on a strike lasting two months now. The govt’s mishandling of the abrogation of the gross system has allowed a judge to rule POTAG’s strike as “legal”. Legal, however, doesn’t make their demands right, btw. Or, even morally tenable, not to mention it is a verdict that they were entitled to their demands. So far as I see it, what is happening is symptomatic of the general intellectual bankruptcy of our academics [and let me add the national elite which includes the politicians], whose failures are mirrored in the continual backwardness of Ghanaians in general. As Ken Kuranchie blurted it out when he was released from prison, “Ghanaians are not civilized”. Let’s be constantly reminded of this."
Yes, let us be constantly reminded about this truism, as I return with the series which delve into the national ideational intellectual bankruptcy that underpin the whole brouhaha.
But, let me note here that even though I support the abrogation of the allowances, I also find woefully inadequate what the govt wants to replace them with. My suggestions for replacement are captured in my article, which I am posting below - yet again.
Andy-K
C.Y. ANDY-K 9 years ago
THE BOOK AND RESEARCH ALLOWANCES BROUHAHA
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) are currently embroiled in a dispute with government over the cancella ... read full comment
THE BOOK AND RESEARCH ALLOWANCES BROUHAHA
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) are currently embroiled in a dispute with government over the cancellation of book and research allowances to lecturers in the tertiary institutions of Ghana. Threatened strike actions have just been suspended pending the outcome of negotiations between the parties to the dispute. I urge government not to buckle to these threats and dastardly blackmail.
Some of us were horrified when we read of the institution of these book and research allowances in the tertiary institutions in the mid-1990s by the NDC Rawlings regime. I wrote against it on the Okyeame forum and received a lot of support from forumers, many of them lecturers in tertiary institutions in the West. A couple of professors from the universities in Ghana on sabbaticals in the US sent me private mails agreeing with me and disagreeing with the new order that was just announced. I was myself then, besides a graduate student and teaching assistant in the University of Bergen, a research assistant at Christian Michelsen Institute (CMI), the largest development and human rights research institute in Scandinavia. A rich country like Norway would not dream of such insane dole outs of public money to lecturers.
I would like to reiterate my objection to what is a gross aberration in the development process designed to just cushion the take home pay of lecturers rather than boost any serious book acquisition, teaching and research efforts, and therefore back the cancellation of the gross anomaly. I would also like to suggest some rational measures to replace the existing wasteful practice, a cynical joke which tax payers must not be burdened with any longer, having just recently been spared some “by force” road toll in Legon.
Those who support the present egregious practice are free to supply to us its evaluation, giving us the number of publications - peer reviewed or not - which each of the recipients have authored over the years and how well they have improved their teaching practices.
It is a fact that our tertiary institutions lack publications to support any meaningful research and teaching, as a visit to any of their main libraries, such as Balme Library in Legon, will show. But the solution is not a privatisation of measures to acquire such publications. The first step in resolving the problem is stocking their libraries, both main and departmental ones, with the latest publications: newspapers, magazines, journals, books, audio visuals, micro films, data bases, etc. Yes, stocking the libraries shall be the main focus.
In conjunction with the above, the book shops on the campuses must be regularly stocked with same publications. In view of this, the university publishing presses must be revamped to secure the rights to publish certain books locally, instead of the present practice of even publishing books for primary schools abroad! It is simply gross!
As it would not be financially and logistically feasible to buy and stock all publications, there must be a selection process to acquire relevant ones only. There are some standard, mainstream publications – books, journals, magazines and newspapers - which it’d be a matter of course to acquire. Books that form part of the curricula, which curricula must be reviewed regularly to include new publications, would be acquired routinely. New books, however, require some element of discretion and lecturers within departments may collectively deliberate upon which to acquire for their institutes, and eventually add to the reading list.
Publishers regularly send catalogues of upcoming publications to educational and research institutions and libraries. Steps must be taken to get such catalogues from both local and foreign publishers. As the practice was in CMI - and I believe still is - the catalogues are passed round from the library to the researchers upstairs to mark any of the publications they want to be acquired for the library, or their own use. If you want a personal copy to keep, one is acquired for you and you pay for it from your own pocket, benefiting from the hefty subsidy the publishers give to the library. If you do not want a copy, you use the one acquired for the library and return it after using it. I availed myself of the opportunity to acquire a couple of books for myself at knocked down prices, one of them not even related directly to my studies, Africa Ark by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher, which provided me with great insight about the peoples of the Horn of Africa, their past and the development challenges we Africans face.
RESEARCH FUNDS
There is need for a three-tiered source of publicly funded funds to lecturers and researchers who want to carry out research requiring funding – the departmental, the university/polytechnic level and the national level.
Funds must be provided to each department to fund some minimum level of research in their fields of specialisation, which fund lecturers shall compete for, or just be granted some funding from for minor expenses linked to their field works, for example. That way, they can build up their research capabilities and capacities to world class levels, capable of attracting independently/privately funded researches and consultancies. We can expect those in the physical and engineering sciences to come out with innovative findings and discoveries which can be commercialised.
There must be a bigger research fund at the university/polytechnic level available to all departments and institutes. Each year, a certain number of researches must be funded on specific areas of interest that contribute to knowledge and the development of Ghana and Africa in general. Lecturers apply to such a fund in competition with each other by presenting research proposals and budget. Not even in the recognised Ivy League institutions of the West are all lecturers undertaking research from one year to another necessitating funding them. After all, there are specialised research institutes with full time researchers undertaking research into vital issues for their states. What about Ghana?
The government must maintain a national fund for research into areas of concern to the government and the public. In view of this, the government shall specify the area it wants to be researched and invites researchers to present research proposals and budget to carry them out. A panel of scholars running the fund shall determine the winner/s. This suggestion is nothing novel but simply what pertains in the civilised nations. The Federal Government of the USA is thus the largest source of research funding in the US, for example.
In spite of the fact that Ken Kuranchie came out from prison, realised that Ghanaians are not civilised and blurted it out just like that, it does not mean that we cannot begin to emulate some of the civilised ways of the people acclaimed to be civilised, if we intend to get out of the ditch into which some have run the state of Ghana since the demise of Kwame Nkrumah. Or, should I say, since the grandfathers and great grand uncles of some of us handed over the affairs of the Gold Coast to the wannabe leaders of the new nation tagged Ghana?
Besides these suggestions, the tertiary institutions must be proactive in seeking private individuals and corporate bodies to set up foundations and legacies to support research within respective departments.
Andy C. Y. Kwawukume
cyandyk@ymail.com
Akwasi 9 years ago
Andy,
You really believe your article is the solution as you keep on posting it at the least opportunity. as your only main source is ghanaweb I do not blame you. Be on the ground and you will see things differently. We ar ... read full comment
Andy,
You really believe your article is the solution as you keep on posting it at the least opportunity. as your only main source is ghanaweb I do not blame you. Be on the ground and you will see things differently. We are just learning that five Officials (non footballers) who accompanied the black stars were paid over 500,000 dollars total for appearance fees approved by cabinet. This same cabinet now thinks POTAG/UTAG do not deserve BRA. Get my point.
IDRIS PACAS 9 years ago
Teaching/lecturing is a 'holy' profession. And I am proud to be part. Whilst one needs some level of training to teach, every secondary leaver can join politics. So why compare the evil earnings of a dirty job to those of per ... read full comment
Teaching/lecturing is a 'holy' profession. And I am proud to be part. Whilst one needs some level of training to teach, every secondary leaver can join politics. So why compare the evil earnings of a dirty job to those of persons in pure job?
If you're teaching but interested in the evil luxury of politicians, just resign and go and join them.
Make a logical argument as to why govt must continue giving Potag and Utag members allowances for no work being done.
So if cabinet approved that monies be wasted on some officials, does that mean the same cabinet must endorse that monies continue to 'wasted' in every other sector?
You heard this money issue from a conscious effort being made by govt to uncover the unnecessarily huge expenditure incurred in Brazil. In the same way, draw our attention to savings made when govt eventually cancels the said allowances.
Mawuli 9 years ago
Akwasi's mentality is the prevailing model of thinking among Ghanaians.
EQUALIZATION of wrongs. He has no logical argument in defense of the continuation of a wastage.
Typically, they attack personalities instead of the a ... read full comment
Akwasi's mentality is the prevailing model of thinking among Ghanaians.
EQUALIZATION of wrongs. He has no logical argument in defense of the continuation of a wastage.
Typically, they attack personalities instead of the argument at hand.
Yaw Ben 9 years ago
You, Mawuli, and Iddris are illiterate goats (courtesy Wole Soyinka). Your illiterate minds prevent you from understanding the simple point Akwasi is making. His is a point which you don’t even need a JHS certificate to und ... read full comment
You, Mawuli, and Iddris are illiterate goats (courtesy Wole Soyinka). Your illiterate minds prevent you from understanding the simple point Akwasi is making. His is a point which you don’t even need a JHS certificate to understand. Second, you’re too lazy to read over what you have written to notice how you contradict yourselves. Akwasi’s point is not that because politicians earn huge allowances lecturers should also earn allowances that you claim they don’t deserve. He is saying that if government wants to use our resources judiciously it should cut down waste in the system (e.g. paying politicians ridiculously high undeserving allowances) so that it can have funds to pay deserving allowances like the research and book allowance.
What does Iddris, by the way, mean by lecturing/teaching is a holy profession; sounds like the voice of an imposter. And you say you’re proud to be one of them. No doubt your IQ is so low. Go to school and stop play-acting on this platform.
IDRIS PACAS 9 years ago
Next time, respect yourself by writing without 'insulting' words.
You cannot overhaul the entire system one day and at once. It is being started from the right place. Let's implement it from here and then extend it to the ... read full comment
Next time, respect yourself by writing without 'insulting' words.
You cannot overhaul the entire system one day and at once. It is being started from the right place. Let's implement it from here and then extend it to the other sectors.
You, Mr Literate Human Being, agreed with me that there's wastage in the system. Soon, the govt will move to other sectors when the allowances have been completely scrapped off.
Akwasi 9 years ago
I guess you and Idris and others do not really read well or refuse to see reality. What is the main point of this article. That is what you must respond to. The National Research Fund is supported by both POTAG and UTAG and w ... read full comment
I guess you and Idris and others do not really read well or refuse to see reality. What is the main point of this article. That is what you must respond to. The National Research Fund is supported by both POTAG and UTAG and was actually proposed by UTAG, something you do not know or refuse to accept. UTAG and POTAG are saying that it is bound to fail from start because the right measures have not been put in place to administer and disburse the funds. Please tell us the measures in place to administer the fund. (read my feature article on Ghanaweb - 8th August. Note also that this fund is not replacing the BRA because it is NATIONAL RESEARCH and any researcher in Ghana can access it for research. BRA is INSTRUCTIONAL RESEARCH for lecturers, so do not confuse the two. This article clearly explains how the BRA came about. For clarification let me repeat. The Government (i) realizing the difficulty lecturers etc were going through to educate the students without even the basics at the libraries and in the labs, (ii) noting the quality of students coming out of the tertiary institutions, decided to give lecturers this BRA as instructional research and MADE IT PART OF THEIR SERVICE CONDITIONS backed by law. Note INSTRUCTIONAL RESEARCH. So if you can prove that UTAG and POTAG are not using this money for books and other materials to improve teaching, show the evidence. Another bone of contention which I will love you to address is the sustainability measures for continuity of the fund so money will not run out next year. This is important because the Government is mute on this and POTAG/UTAG are asking this question judging from NHIS, GETFUND and District Assemblies funds that have run out. These are issues I need your responses to, so answer these and do not also attack personalities like you are accusing me of. Can you also tell me why of all the conditions of service being enjoyed by all workers in Ghana, the Government picked on lecturers. I will be happy if the government shows a list of workers after lecturers, who will also lose their conditions of service. Unless you want to put on record that other Ghanaian workers really deserve their conditions of service. Idris' simple logic is if I want to be a politician, I should go into politics and not complain. My simple logic response is to tell SHS teachers who are qualified to apply for lectureship and not complain.
C.Y. ANDY-K 9 years ago
Akwasi, my proposals are indeed far, far superior to the present system and what the govt is proposing. It takes care of both the devtal and "instructional" research, whatever that means. I shall therefore continue to re-post ... read full comment
Akwasi, my proposals are indeed far, far superior to the present system and what the govt is proposing. It takes care of both the devtal and "instructional" research, whatever that means. I shall therefore continue to re-post it against the kind crappy write-ups your kind are churning out to justify the wasteful and farcical system.
Since I intend to write a new article to expose the fallacious and thus illogical positions you and your ilk are championing, as you don't seem to understand the rudiments of logical argument despite my brave efforts to explain to you, I shall not comment much here. I just want you to know that it is the responsibility of the employing educational institutions to make available books and other research materials for lecturers to teach effectively. This effort should NEVER have been privatised by giving the monies to individual lecturers. Books, magazines, lap tops and other materials acquired should be going to the libraries and labs after use, not into the homes of indiv. lecturers.
Andy-K
Akwasi 9 years ago
Your points are fine but not practical in Ghana. That is where your problem is and it is because you are not in the system. You said "it is the responsibility of the employing educational institutions to make available books ... read full comment
Your points are fine but not practical in Ghana. That is where your problem is and it is because you are not in the system. You said "it is the responsibility of the employing educational institutions to make available books and other research materials for lecturers to teach effectively". Yes, that is true and I agree with you. In the US, I did not need BRA, cos the varsity provided every thing, I mean everything, even travels to Ghana to attend conferences and mentor students. In Ghana, the government controls the University and is not ready to let go. So why don't you suggest to the government to make that available and establish a convincing way that will ensure continuous upgrading. Then gov't can negotiate with UTAG and POTAG to cancel BRA because it is legally binding. I am sure POTAG and UTAG will let go if these are in place. If you have been following Ghana religiously, you will know that the Gov't wants to cancel BRA and still not make what is necessary available. That is why there is all this confusion. So as you keep on saying the government should, the gov't should, ask yourself what the next step for the 2014/2015 academic year should be, if the government doesn't.
C.Y. ANDY-K 9 years ago
Akwasi, I am not in Ghana but trust me when I say I keep better tabs on Ghana than most there.
In 2003, I was at Legon and cracked jokes about the B&RAs with my good pal Dan-Bright (now Head of the Soc. Dept) and another ... read full comment
Akwasi, I am not in Ghana but trust me when I say I keep better tabs on Ghana than most there.
In 2003, I was at Legon and cracked jokes about the B&RAs with my good pal Dan-Bright (now Head of the Soc. Dept) and another lecturer who was on secondment to the IMF then. Can't recollect his name now. I wanted to inspect their publications! We had a good laugh then. So you see, I have been on this case for a long, long time now!
Yes, the situation in Ghana is insane and often unbelievable to we outsiders. You want to perpetuate it, for your selfish reasons cloaked in pious terms but I'm campaigning to have it changed.
I shall be back soon better armed.
Andy-K
Osei Yao 9 years ago
POTAG IS TALKING NONSENSE! WHERE IN THIS WORLD ARE B&R ALLOWANCES PAID AS A MATTER OF COURSE TO ACADEMICS? EVERYWHERE, ACADEMICS APPLY FOR GRANT FOR WHATEVER THEY INTEND TO DO. IN DOING SO THEY JUSTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE REASON ... read full comment
POTAG IS TALKING NONSENSE! WHERE IN THIS WORLD ARE B&R ALLOWANCES PAID AS A MATTER OF COURSE TO ACADEMICS? EVERYWHERE, ACADEMICS APPLY FOR GRANT FOR WHATEVER THEY INTEND TO DO. IN DOING SO THEY JUSTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THE APPLICATION. DEPENDING ON THE PRIORITY OF THE FUNDING BODY AWARDS ARE MADE. IN GHANA ACADEMICS DO NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO PREPARE APPLICATION FOR GRANT. THEY MUST BE MADE TO LEARN, AT LEAST, THIS. GOV'T MUST STICK TO THE NRIF.
Abeeku Mensah 9 years ago
POTAG members must argue for socialism or communist doctrines to overcome a long held knock against either by NPP card carrying members who believe it does limit innovation and excellence. If the government must pay BRA to P ... read full comment
POTAG members must argue for socialism or communist doctrines to overcome a long held knock against either by NPP card carrying members who believe it does limit innovation and excellence. If the government must pay BRA to POTAG members irrespective of work done or quality of the work then it would be far more palatable to argue for socialist or communist principles. The terms of conditions of employment are subject to change that is why its articles call for negotiated contracts cyclically. What must the government do if POTAG members stay away from their classrooms and students while picketing? Should students have rights when their future happens to be at stake? Why not agree to have research work be evaluated for merit or their place and or contribution to society in area of discipline before payments are released by government? Do we give students their grade prior to completion of a subject study? If not POTAG must not argue for and on behalf of mediocrity but argue for meritocracy.
Ayine 9 years ago
Please, But how many Lecturers come out with recent developments in their topics before going to teach?
We all know they are used to their great grand fathers notes, Isnt It?
Please, But how many Lecturers come out with recent developments in their topics before going to teach?
We all know they are used to their great grand fathers notes, Isnt It?
I get sick when POTAG members call themselves lecturers instead of instructors. Those who teach scholars are lecturers whilst the polytechnic teachers who are supposed to teach practitioners are supposed to be called instruct ...
read full comment
Why don't u stick to the serious topic under discussion? People like you make me very sick too!
Andy-K
This paragraph is lifted verbatim from your write-up:
The Book and Research allowance constitute part of the tools, equipment, machinery or learning materials to aid the Lecturer in performing his or her day-to-day activit ...
read full comment
The fact that the Mahama regime was, as usual, inept in handling the abrogation of these farcical allowances doesn't make them right and proper and should be continued.
In fact, I was among the first to comment on the gov ...
read full comment
THE BOOK AND RESEARCH ALLOWANCES BROUHAHA
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) are currently embroiled in a dispute with government over the cancella ...
read full comment
Andy,
You really believe your article is the solution as you keep on posting it at the least opportunity. as your only main source is ghanaweb I do not blame you. Be on the ground and you will see things differently. We ar ...
read full comment
Teaching/lecturing is a 'holy' profession. And I am proud to be part. Whilst one needs some level of training to teach, every secondary leaver can join politics. So why compare the evil earnings of a dirty job to those of per ...
read full comment
Akwasi's mentality is the prevailing model of thinking among Ghanaians.
EQUALIZATION of wrongs. He has no logical argument in defense of the continuation of a wastage.
Typically, they attack personalities instead of the a ...
read full comment
You, Mawuli, and Iddris are illiterate goats (courtesy Wole Soyinka). Your illiterate minds prevent you from understanding the simple point Akwasi is making. His is a point which you don’t even need a JHS certificate to und ...
read full comment
Next time, respect yourself by writing without 'insulting' words.
You cannot overhaul the entire system one day and at once. It is being started from the right place. Let's implement it from here and then extend it to the ...
read full comment
I guess you and Idris and others do not really read well or refuse to see reality. What is the main point of this article. That is what you must respond to. The National Research Fund is supported by both POTAG and UTAG and w ...
read full comment
Akwasi, my proposals are indeed far, far superior to the present system and what the govt is proposing. It takes care of both the devtal and "instructional" research, whatever that means. I shall therefore continue to re-post ...
read full comment
Your points are fine but not practical in Ghana. That is where your problem is and it is because you are not in the system. You said "it is the responsibility of the employing educational institutions to make available books ...
read full comment
Akwasi, I am not in Ghana but trust me when I say I keep better tabs on Ghana than most there.
In 2003, I was at Legon and cracked jokes about the B&RAs with my good pal Dan-Bright (now Head of the Soc. Dept) and another ...
read full comment
POTAG IS TALKING NONSENSE! WHERE IN THIS WORLD ARE B&R ALLOWANCES PAID AS A MATTER OF COURSE TO ACADEMICS? EVERYWHERE, ACADEMICS APPLY FOR GRANT FOR WHATEVER THEY INTEND TO DO. IN DOING SO THEY JUSTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE REASON ...
read full comment
POTAG members must argue for socialism or communist doctrines to overcome a long held knock against either by NPP card carrying members who believe it does limit innovation and excellence. If the government must pay BRA to P ...
read full comment
Please, But how many Lecturers come out with recent developments in their topics before going to teach?
We all know they are used to their great grand fathers notes, Isnt It?