Teachers: World Teachers’ Day Should Be A Holiday

Mr. Cezar Kale, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, has commended teachers in the country for their hard work and commitment towards the achievement of quality education in the country. He said this when members of the Upper West Regional Branch of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) met at the Regional Teachers Hall in Wa to mark World Teachers’ Day in the region. The teachers, including the Regional and District GNAT executives, went on a float through the main streets of Wa, singing and dancing. Mr. Kale urged the teachers to use the day to pay tribute to their colleagues whose services were invaluable to the development of Education. He appealed to GNAT not to only focus on negotiating for better salaries for their members but also long term benefits such as houses among others for members. Mr Kale said since the NDC government took office, the education sector in the region had already received over 280 projects. Mr. Sebastian Sorinye, the Upper West Regional Chairman of GNAT, appealed to the government to make the World Teachers Day celebration a national holiday. Mr. Sorinye appealed to the government to urge the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to allow space for unions to sit with the Commission to discuss the roadmap to the payment of category three and four allowances of teachers.He also suggested the need for the formation of a Teachers’ Federation in the country which according to him would be more vibrant in advocating for better service conditions for teachers. Mr. Sorinye commended the government for using the occasion to award teachers. He appealed to the government to consider paying the salary arrears of teachers as soon as possible in order to avoid any industrial unrest and also boost the confidence that teachers had for the government. Four persons were honourd for their hard work and contribution towards the advancement of GNAT in achieving its objectives in particular and the development of education in Ghana. They are Mr. Clement Benin, the District Chief Executive of Lambussie-Karni District, Madame Duogo Dinivi Philomina, Headmistress of Saint Paul’s Primary School in Nandom, Mrs. Margaret Mary Vielu, Wa West District Education Girl Child Officer and 30-year-old Antieme Matthew, Sissala West District Science and Mathematics Coordinator. They each received a laptop computer and two different pieces each of the Association’s cloth.

Source: GNA