The enemy of the teacher is the teacher, not the government

Today marks one of the milestones of teaching fraternity around the world: Teachers’ Day.

World Teachers’ Day is held on October 5th every year to celebrate all teachers around the world. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO / UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets criteria for the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and in-service training, recruitment , employment and teaching and learning conditions. .

It is therefore an honor to congratulate and wish all teachers in Ghana a beautiful and memorable day. May our sacrifices gain the necessary recognition and respect.

On a special day like this, we must also reflect on the path of brotherhood. The conditions in which we live, in particular, must be at the heart of the issues in any appropriate contextualized conversation. I will contribute to the topic, limiting the issues to the profession in Ghana and how we as teachers have sold our own integrity, respect and value. The genesis of our current difficulties is our own attitude towards the profession. Do you agree with me?

Often I wonder how a government is going to think that a teacher should not have better terms of service. Even when it comes to formulating policies that the teacher will implement, teachers are less involved.

I know this remains a wonder for you too but take a deeper thought and you will agree that we have made the profession so vulnerable that we are easily used and dazed!

Our leaders here, the union leaders, are often used as bait, to exploit the innocent teacher. It was the union leader who assumed, at the risk of his life, to represent the position of the teacher’s greatest interest. In many cases, however, these leaders go to the negotiating table without any broader consultation and therefore do not know the feelings and interests of the vast majority of the fellowship.

As the topic of the poor condition of teachers persists, union leaders find it appropriate to agree with the government on a paltry 4% pay rise. This, many teachers were not happy. The price of fuel alone for 2021 has increased by more than 4%. This is also reflected in the freight rates!

Union leaders have been convinced that we are not in normal times. These same union leaders feel good that Section 71 office holders have had a pay rise of over 70%. Or the “not in normal times” is reserved only for the ordinary teacher?

Are we now in normal times for the government to consider procuring a new presidential jet? What is the position of the union leaders? They died of silence!

Again, the highest form of nonsense is for union leaders to negotiate for the government to provide substandard laptops for teachers. The 21st century teacher in 2021 is expected to negotiate housing programs, vehicles, improved wages, housing allowance and a host of others. Indeed, I believe that every teacher is able to buy a laptop. Even though teachers complain, they cannot buy laptops. GNAT through Mutual Fund and Teachers’ Mall is quite capable of selling laptops to installment teachers. The profit which would have been drawn from it would be used to enrich the Association, which in turn, would be invested to improve the teacher. This is how you help your members grow personally and professionally in innovative ways. I thought the teachers’ mall was selling various items to installment teachers? For a professional association like ours, among the many difficulties that plague us, to consider that such a laptop is the first necessity for teachers, is shameful.

I dare say we accepted laptops because we had no options, but I personally think we have better things to negotiate than what we can afford.

We don’t need to demean our image! The government did well in providing the laptops, after all our leaders negotiated for it. Today, a company that couldn’t sell 50 laptops a month sells thousands a day. Someone will definitely “lick their fingers” from this unique source! Teachers are the bait!

How much do teachers contribute to the policies of this country? We are in a great position to contribute, but we love politicians and fear contradicting them. Great occasions like today will end without any deliberation of policy proposals by teachers!

We must “own” the education sector through authoritative political discussions, the only way to regain our esteem in national development.

Again, it will be interesting for you to note that over 70% of the workers in Ghana Education Service are professional teachers. As soon as they get there, most of them become enemies of the teacher. They will not make decisions that will benefit the teacher to function effectively. Some will even hinder your professional growth. In terms of promotion, upgrading, continuing studies, among others, we see these frustrations!

Indeed, the enemy of the teacher is the teacher.

Teachers fought so hard for professional allowances. Professional indemnity was granted. Thanks to the current government. As soon as the government agreed to pay the allowance, union leaders made another heinous deal for the government through the National Board of Education to deduct one hundred Cedis to facilitate licensing of teachers. . As I type, the teachers haven’t received the so-called licenses since. Is the money used for business? 30% of the cost of “Almighty Laptops” is deducted from the same professional allowance! Who will speak? Is it the government’s fault? No!

GNAT in particular has strength, both digital and financial, but we fail to leverage it to present an enviable image and value to government.

All hope is not lost. We can do better to improve our own growth. At that point, the government will value us more at the negotiating table. This we must do with firmness, boldness and pure conscience, but if we choose to become political puppets or choose to promote personal interests at the expense of the ordinary teacher, then we are doomed and yet see shameful days.

I love the profession, I love everyone who works hard for the sake of the fellowship, and I greet all teachers across Ghana. We have a country to build, but first we have to build ourselves!

Best regards to Thomas Musah, the Secretary General of GNAT under whose leadership the dissemination of information has improved considerably.