As our motto and the theme for this press conference connotes, “Quality Education Our Concern”, the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT)-Ghana INTRODUCTION. We welcome you to this Press Conference and wish to express our appreciation for the cordial relationship that has existed between us. As our motto and the theme for this press conference connotes, “Quality Education Our Concern”, the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT)-Ghana would like to use this medium to alert you the media and for that matter the general public of some major challenges currently facing the education system in the country. In addition, the socio-political quagmire we are confronted with in Ghana today is something we cannot gloss over. The Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) as a young but vibrant Teacher Union cannot sit unconcerned but will make meaningful suggestions to the powers that be in order to find some solutions to the problem we are confronted with as a nation. Inasmuch as all of us are waiting patiently for the Supreme Court to give its verdict, there are some myriad of issues that are equally important as the petition in the Supreme Court. We therefore wish to crave your indulgence to help us communicate the relevance of this press conference to Ghanaians in general and government in particular in our quest to ensure quality education for this country. High Cost of living and Base Pay for 2013 The first issue has to do with the introduction and implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy. Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, a lot of hullabaloo has heralded the implementation of this pay policy. Many departments, organizations and individuals raised suspicion about this pay structure in the realm of how discriminatory the policy is being executed. Could you imagine that, at the time that the single spine was implemented for some sectors, Teachers were short-changed? While some sectors were paid their allowances, teachers in particular were told to hold on for their Union leaders to negotiate for their allowances. Since the implementation of the pay policy, what positive impact has it had on the lives of teachers coupled with the harsh economic conditions? The government’s inability to negotiate for base pay as at August 2013 is making life unbearable for Ghanaian workers. We therefore advise government to reconsider its position on the 8% base pay it wants to give to teachers (and other public workers). We consider the government attempt to implement the said 8% very unfortunate and economically irrelevant in a wake of recent increases in utility prices, taxes, petroleum tariffs, depreciation of the cedi without corresponding or appreciable increase in salaries of teachers. If the current economic conditions persist, the quality education we all espouse to will never be achieved. UNDUE DELAY IN THE RELEASE OF CAPITATION GRANTS AND SUBVENTIONS TO SCHOOLS We are not happy with the government’s inability to release Capitation Grants and Subventions to schools on time. The undue delay in the payment of these grants is affecting the smooth running of our schools negatively. Information reaching CCT indicates that the government has not been able to release the 2012/2013 Capitation Grants for Basic Schools as we speak. This situation has made it extremely difficult and practically impossible for Heads of Basic Schools to perform. The CCT considers this situation very serious and unfortunate. The failure of government to release funds for the capitation has resulted in the following problems: 1. Most schools have not been able to procure adequate teaching and learning materials (TLMs) needed to augment quality education and efficient teaching and learning. 2. Schools have not been able to secure sports logistics or facilities like footballs, etc. needed for the psychomotor development of students. 3. Schools do find it difficult to buy adequate stationaries like A4 sheets, cartridges etc. needed to run termly examinations. If Capitation Grants to basic schools have not been paid for almost one-and-half years then, where lies the quality education we are preaching about? Head teachers of basic schools throughout the country depend on the Capitation Grants to undertake educational activities, buy training and other learning materials to enhance the knowledge of their pupils. How then can Head Teachers in the Districts operate effectively without the Capitation Grants meant to improve the quality standard of education in basic schools? The CCT considers these actions of government a threat to quality education. NON PAYMENT OF SUBVENTIONS TO DISTRICT DIRECTORATES OF EDUCATION. The non-payment of the subventions to the District Directorates of Education has practically made the Circuit Supervisors unable to perform their responsibilities as far as monitoring and supervision of teachers is concerned. Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, colleague teachers, you will all agree that Monitoring and Supervision is one of the key pillars to ensure quality education and to increase productivity. Coalition of Concerned Teachers believes that if we want develop as a nation, then issues of education should be prioritized, else the future prospect of building human resourced capacity of the nation is bleak. If the needed resources are not provided by the time school re-opens we will advise ourselves. GOVERNMENT POLICY TO SCRAP ALLOWANCES GIVEN TO STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION. The government needs to take a second look at its decision to scrap allowances given to teacher trainees. A careful analysis of the proposed policy suggests to us that any attempt by the government to stop the allowances given to teacher trainees will make an already bad situation worse. Our arguments are based on the following reasons; 1. Facilities at the Colleges are not sufficiently adequate to warrant them tertiary status. 2. The proposed policy will invariably demotivate Ghanaians who would want to go into the teaching profession; meanwhile, the country is currently facing the problem of inadequate teachers. All these fundamentally affect quality education negatively. 3. It is also discriminately for other Diploma awarding colleges to continue receiving their allowances whiles that of teacher trainees are halted. 4. Teachers’ salaries are too paltry to support the payment of the said loans after completion of their program. 5. Research indicates that about 10,000 teachers leave the classroom every year for various reasons ( Ghana Web and G.E.S) This is a clear indication that the attrition rate is very high hence any attempt by government to stop these allowances will not augur well for Ghana. We reaffirm our support for the position taken by IMANI GHANA to expand facilities in all the 38 colleges of education to help them attain full tertiary status. We therefore demand for an immediate halt to this policy. Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen we cannot sit back and allow policy makers to toy with our educational system. Let me end the statement by quoting a Swahili proverb “maalin nooga madaoo” which simply means the hope of our country glows in our children’s heart. We therefore ask well-meaning Ghanaians, and all stakeholders to rise and support CCT-Ghana as we continue to fight for better condition of service and quality education for all. Thank You. Long Live Ghana!!! Long Live CCT-Ghana!!! SIGNED: ERNEST OPOKU PRESIDENT CCT- GH (0209507769)
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 19:11:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015