Teachers across the country has been assured of a special housing facility as well as tax waiver by the Flagbearer of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. John Dramani Mahama to ease their burden and motivate them in his next government come 2021.
The former President and Flagbearer acknowledged the critical role teachers play in the development of the country hence the decision.
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama made these assurance during his engagement with the leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) in Accra on Wednesday.
The meeting was aimed at soliciting policy suggestions from the leadership to be added to the NDC’s People’s Manifesto.
Speaking further, he emphasized that, “We will also looked at special housing programme that ensures that the burden of looking for accommodation, a cut throat rent is minimized for teachers especially those who are posted to rural Ghana so that they can take advantage of the housing programme and accept postings to those communities.
Adding “We have also discussed the matter to do with how tax waivers can be granted to teachers.”
The next NDC government he revealed will pay particular attention to teacher’s condition of service stressing that, teachers are partners in development hence deserve better.
The NDC Flagbearer used the ocassion to assure female teachers of a special maternity leave and child care policy to assuage their burden during the period of nursing.
Touching on the Licensure Exams, H.E John Mahama who took a swipe at the current government for the introduction of the Licensure Examination and the Compulsory National Service for Graduate teachers.
Explaining that, there are ways that teachers could be assessed without necessarily going through licensure examination
Therefore, he suggested that the licensure examination can be conducted as part of curriculum for the examination of trainee teachers within the colleges of education and the universities so that teachers do not have to graduate and then later called to come sit for licensure examination.
“We believe that it should be part of the training of teachers for a smooth transition and improvement of quality. We don’t believe that every thing should be reduced to examination” Mr. Mahama opined.
Therefore, assured the leadership of NAGRAT of his commitment to scrap off the compulsory national service for Graduates of the Colleges of Education when voted into Office.
Indicting that, “we hold the view that we should revert to the original policy that used to pertain under the NDC government where graduate teachers were not under any compulsion to carry out national service considering that they already go on a probation which is practical and earns them more money”
Adding that, that particular policy is consistent to other professional bodies like the medical doctors whom he said have their own unique housemanship programme that does not require them to carry out national service.
Former President Mahama whose manifesto policies were highlighted by the MP for North Tongue Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also stressed on the need to guard against foreign influence in our educational sector.
Adding that, the privatization and commercialization of the basic education will not feature in the Party’s Manifesto.
According to him countries like Liberia where the basic education has been privatized, the results has been disastrous hence the need to guard against it.
On his part, the President of NAGRAT, Mr. Angel Kabonu who was flanked by all his national officers thanked the former President for the People’s Manifesto initiative.
The Ghana Education Service(GES) he requested to be autonomous from government control.
His request made the former President to assured them of reformation of the GES, hence making t “Authority” where only education practitioners or directors of education will be appointed to head it as opposed to the current dispensation where appointees have invariably been outsiders and not from within.
The NDC flagbearer and former president, H.E. John Dramani Mahama was accompanied by party bigwigs like Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Madam Sherry Ayitey, Mr. Joshua Alabi, Mr. Aku Gunn, Nana Oye Lithur, Hon Kwabema Mintah Akandoh among others
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com/ Ishmael Barfi/senghana@gmail.com
