Increase investment in education

Daily Graphic August 26,2013 Page 65 Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, BOLGATANGA A retired Educationist and Founding Principal of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic in the Upper East Region, Mr Robet A. Ajene has called on government to increase its investment in education to make the teaching profession an attractive destination for many. According to Mr Ajene, who has over 30 years experience in the teaching profession, the biggest challenge facing Ghana in her bid to attain the level of development in newly industrialized economies is the widening is the opportunity for quality schooling at both the primary and secondary levels. “If we want to avoid crises in Ghana now and before 2015, we should promote basic education as not only a constitutional obligation for Ghana but also prerequisite for economic growth and poverty reduction. In fact all efforts, the educational system is still far from achieving the desired outcomes. We still have challenges at the basic level and these need serious attention,” Mr Ajene said. The retired educationist made the call as a guest speaker for the 4th quadrennial delegate conference of the Upper East Region branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, (GNAT) in Bolgatanga Mr Ajene also noted that one sure way of averting the crises in education is effective supervision. He said where supervision does not exist; the tendency is for teachers to relax their efforts, attend classes irregularly or unpunctual or both. He emphasized the need for the Ghana Education Service to improve its inspectorate system. Another approach he said was the need to pay attention to entrepreneurial training so that the products churned are readily absorbed into the job market instead of being left without jobs. “Look at our polytechnics, which are meant to produce middle level manpower. Most polytechnic graduates are not being employed in the public sector due to lack of vacancies or that they were not specifically trained to undertake a specific job” Mr. Thomas Baafi, Deputy General Secretary of GNAT, in charge of Education and Professional Development said as part of the way forward, Ghana has to rethink how to attract, employ, retain outstanding teaching talents. He added that in-service training, availability of learning and teaching materials, massive infrastructure development and programmes targeting the vulnerable are key to averting crisis in the sector. Mr Baafi added that the systems failures in the education sector must be fixed whiles issues such as delays in promotion, upgrading and salary adjustments of teachers must be give priority attention. “The nation needs an education paradigm shift. Education planners must look beyond counting the number of children sitting in classrooms and focus on learning. The philosophy and goals of education must be tailored at building relevant knowledge, equipping learners with life skills, building positive perspectives and inculcating in learners positive attitudes and values grounded in our culture,” he said. Mr. Steven Gebute, Upper East Regional Chairman of GNAT admonished members of the union to be minded of the implementation of the Education Act, 2008, Act 778, and improve on their output warning that “if we are to be retained in the teaching profession, we need to sit up”. He explained that the Act has no room for lateness to school, drunkenness, absenteeism and non-performing teachers. Touching on the activities of the union, the Regional Chairman said the union does not only negotiate for improved salaries and conditions of service for its members but also contributes to the development of society and the nation at large. He said in the period under review, GNAT in the region initiated projects and programmes among which is a science project organized for teachers particularly female teachers, drawn from 50 primary schools in the Bawku West District with the aim of upgrading the knowledge and skills of teachers to effectively teach science in the upper primary and to arouse the interest of female teachers in the teaching of science. Mr Gebute expressed worry at the attraction rate in the profession and appealed to the government to make the teaching profession an attractive destination. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Syme while commending the union for the proactive roles it is playing in raising critical issues of national interest in education delivery in the country in general and the region in particular, urged leadership of GNAT and other labor unions in the education sector to desist from defending the members who intentionally refuse to work when supervisors want to crack the whip. “As you fight for better conditions of service for them, remind them about their duties and responsibilities as teachers,” he added. He gave the assurances that government will continue to provide the much needed resources for effective teaching and learning in schools to forestall the crisis situation the union is foreseeing. -End- Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh Quick read The Upper East Region branch of GNAT holds conference every four years at the regional level. The purpose of the conference is to take stock of major activities carried out over the period under review, assess the strengths and weakness, evaluate its activities and project into the future The theme for this year’s conference was “Education in Crisis-the agenda for 2015 and beyond, the role of the stakeholders” The guest speaker for this year’s conference Mr Robert Ajene, a retired educationist advocated increased investments, increased supervision and entrepreneurial training at all levels of the sector. Increase