Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Education without quality is useless and affects students’ performance.
The Former President stated this when he held fruitful interactions with the leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), as part of measures by the NDC Party to seek the views of stakeholders who matter most in education.
This is to help the party come out with a solid manifesto that will reflect the needs and aspirations of the good people of Ghana.
Mr. Mahama acknowledged the fact that in other to move the country’s education forward and in the right direction, there is the need to seek the views of stakeholders in the education sector.
He averred that stakeholders in the education sector have the requisite knowledge as to how quality education can be achieved, hence the need to consult NAGRAT for their rich expertise.
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NAGRAT, he said, is a major stakeholder in education and that its inputs would help tremendously improved the quality of education in the country.
He pointed out that time has come to reform the education sector in order to improve the outcome of the educations service and observed that in doing so, everyone must be on board.
“Right now, there’s a certain tyranny in the system. If as a headteacher you open your mouth and talk, you’ll be dismissed without going through due process.” “Everybody is quiet because everyone is afraid to talk. And so the government is just going ahead implementing and bulldozing its way through.”
“One question you have to ask yourself is the quality of these children that are going to come out,” he stated.
The discussion centered on improving teaching and learning in schools, challenges facing teachers, and its effects on quality education.
Explaining the meeting’s outcome to the press, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto said the current NDC manifesto will address the concerns of NAGRAT on the issue of foreign influence that seeks to impose policies on Ghana without taking into cognizance, the local content and the social-cultural dynamics.
Furthermore, privatization and commercialization of basic education in the country is not going to be tolerated in the next NDC government.
Hon. Ablakwa revealed that the party has taken note of concerns about the compulsory National Service for Graduate Teacher Training Colleges in the country, and assured of the party’s intention to reverse to the old system, saying National Service allowances are too low for teachers to keep body and soul together.
The NDC, according to Hon. Ablakwa, will grant a tax waiver on the importation of cars into the country by teachers, adding that the system used to be in place but was withdrawn due to abuse.
Better Conditions of Services for Teacher, he stated, is one of the priority areas that the next NDC government would consider.
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The Party, he said, holds the view that the licensure examination be included in the curriculum in other to avoid a situation where after graduation or national service before going back to write.
The next NDC Government, he said, is going to revamp the distribution of technology across the country and feature it in education to improve both quality teaching and learning.
Furthermore, they would be looking at the welfare of female teachers as far as maternity leave is concerned.
On the issue of comfortability, the party pledged its commitment to implement special housing projects for teachers, especially those posted to the rural areas.
The next NDC Government, Hon Abkakwa indicated, would not abuse the rights of teachers like the current NPP government under the leadership of President Akufo Addo is doing, harassing and intimidating teachers anytime they open their mouths to express their views on issues concerning education.
The Party assured it will abide by the wishes of NAGRAT, who want the Ghana Education Service to be separated from the Ministry of Education so it can stand on its own and.
Present at the meeting were the National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Professor Joshua Alabi, Madam Sherry Ayittey, Moses Mabengba, the Ranking Member on the Education Committee in Parliament Nortsu Kortoe, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa among others.
By William Sarpong I FrontPageGhana
