Teachers posted to rural communities and those serving in special schools will receive allowances under the new public sector pay policy – Single Spine Salary Structure.
Vice-President John Mahama, who announced this yesterday, said the government had commenced the implementation of incentives for teachers, including professional allowances, stressing that data was being collected to implement special allowances for especially, vocational/technical and science tutors.
He was speaking at the 16th National Best Teacher Award at Koforidua in the Eastern Region which coincided with the World Teachers’ Day, under the theme, “Recovery begins with teachers,” to emphasize the role teachers play in quality education delivery.
The occasion witnessed the recognition of 84 teachers in 17 categories of awards, ranging from a cheque for putting up a building, saloon cars, fridges,cookers and TV sets.
Touching on the enrolment of new students into Senior High Schools vis-à-vis infrastructural constraints, he urged the Ghana Education Service to undertake an inventory of available spaces such as dining and assembly halls to be used as temporary classrooms while works to upgrade infrastructure at the schools to accommodate the new entrants went on.
He said the government had targeted 214 schools country-wide to upgrade their infrastructure to cope with the high rate of enrollment due to the brief introduction of the four year duration of the SHS.
Vice-President Mahama said the project, which involved construction of classroom blocks and dormitories, was 65 per cent complete, adding that the remaining 35 per cent would be completed in the next few months. He, however, urged the contractors on the projects to expedite work.
Vice-President Mahama also appealed to the various teacher unions negotiating for a pay increase with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission under the Single Spine Pay policy to do so, taking into consideration the budgetary constraints.
He stressed that the on-going negotiations by management of the Ghana Education Service and the teacher unions with the commission should be done diligently, but said “we must all negotiate with the interest and survival of our country at heart”.
Vice-President Mahama expressed the hope that while the government made strenuous efforts to motivate teachers, they would reciprocate the gesture by eschewing the “laissez faire attitude to work” and contribute instead to the attainment of a middle-income status.
He stressed that it was through the concerted efforts of teachers and parents that children’s performance in the classroom could be brought back on track.
“We have all not been satisfied with the performance of our children in the B.E.C.E over the years. We, therefore, have to pursue an agenda of education recovery. This must cover the teaching and learning environment, availability of highly qualified and motivated teachers, and availability of teaching and learning materials,” he stated.
He disclosed that 70 per cent of the targeted children under the Free School Uniform Programme had been covered and assured that the remaining pupils would be covered by the end of the year, while the distribution of free exercise books to children in public basic schools would continue.
Mr. Paul Apanga, president of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, called for a regular and sustained accredited in-service programme for teachers.
He also called for a stakeholders’ meeting to work out the modalities for implementation of an effective support scheme for distance learning.
On the Single Spine Salary structure, Mr. Apanga appealed to the rank-and-file to be patient with the GES and the teacher unions as they sorted out critical issues with the FWSC to ensure that no teacher was disadvantaged.
Professor (Emeritus) Daasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, who chaired the function, stressed the need for constant research and capacity building, as well as incentive packages to enhance the teaching profession.
Vice-President John Mahama, who announced this yesterday, said the government had commenced the implementation of incentives for teachers, including professional allowances, stressing that data was being collected to implement special allowances for especially, vocational/technical and science tutors.
He was speaking at the 16th National Best Teacher Award at Koforidua in the Eastern Region which coincided with the World Teachers’ Day, under the theme, “Recovery begins with teachers,” to emphasize the role teachers play in quality education delivery.
The occasion witnessed the recognition of 84 teachers in 17 categories of awards, ranging from a cheque for putting up a building, saloon cars, fridges,cookers and TV sets.
Touching on the enrolment of new students into Senior High Schools vis-à-vis infrastructural constraints, he urged the Ghana Education Service to undertake an inventory of available spaces such as dining and assembly halls to be used as temporary classrooms while works to upgrade infrastructure at the schools to accommodate the new entrants went on.
He said the government had targeted 214 schools country-wide to upgrade their infrastructure to cope with the high rate of enrollment due to the brief introduction of the four year duration of the SHS.
Vice-President Mahama said the project, which involved construction of classroom blocks and dormitories, was 65 per cent complete, adding that the remaining 35 per cent would be completed in the next few months. He, however, urged the contractors on the projects to expedite work.
Vice-President Mahama also appealed to the various teacher unions negotiating for a pay increase with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission under the Single Spine Pay policy to do so, taking into consideration the budgetary constraints.
He stressed that the on-going negotiations by management of the Ghana Education Service and the teacher unions with the commission should be done diligently, but said “we must all negotiate with the interest and survival of our country at heart”.
Vice-President Mahama expressed the hope that while the government made strenuous efforts to motivate teachers, they would reciprocate the gesture by eschewing the “laissez faire attitude to work” and contribute instead to the attainment of a middle-income status.
He stressed that it was through the concerted efforts of teachers and parents that children’s performance in the classroom could be brought back on track.
“We have all not been satisfied with the performance of our children in the B.E.C.E over the years. We, therefore, have to pursue an agenda of education recovery. This must cover the teaching and learning environment, availability of highly qualified and motivated teachers, and availability of teaching and learning materials,” he stated.
He disclosed that 70 per cent of the targeted children under the Free School Uniform Programme had been covered and assured that the remaining pupils would be covered by the end of the year, while the distribution of free exercise books to children in public basic schools would continue.
Mr. Paul Apanga, president of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, called for a regular and sustained accredited in-service programme for teachers.
He also called for a stakeholders’ meeting to work out the modalities for implementation of an effective support scheme for distance learning.
On the Single Spine Salary structure, Mr. Apanga appealed to the rank-and-file to be patient with the GES and the teacher unions as they sorted out critical issues with the FWSC to ensure that no teacher was disadvantaged.
Professor (Emeritus) Daasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, who chaired the function, stressed the need for constant research and capacity building, as well as incentive packages to enhance the teaching profession.
