The fact is Teachers hear all the time that they are doing God’s work because their work is a “noble profession” by preparing the next generation for the future. Cultivating young minds of our future generations. Yes, they hold the future.
But do we really mean it in Ghana? if we meant it, Teachers would have been in the same league as their professional peers (Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants…).
Teachers Unions
Let me begin by saying I respect the teaching profession, immensely. I am a Teacher and I applaud the job they do. Membership in the “Teacher’s Union” is part of the problem. Unions were formed to protect employees. Unions negotiate fare wages, working conditions etc. Unions were established to fight for the normal worker. I understand unions played a bigger role in this problem for their inability to negotiate favorably for higher pay and benefits for their fellow Teachers.
But, Is That the Case in Ghana?
We were in this country when the “One Teacher One Laptop Policy” for Pre-Tertiary School Teachers was introduced by both Dr. Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum Minister of Ghana Education Service with an open declaration that the writing of lesson for basic education teachers is over. Meaning, Teachers will no longer write lesson notes because the Lesson Notes Software will be incorporated into the system of the TM1 LAPTOPS. It wasn’t free, teachers involved were deducted.
For some time now, there’s no update on how far the distribution is ongoing across the country.
However, an article we posted on the social media pages on the 7th April, 2022 about the General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah‘s declaration during his tour of the Volta and Oti Regions that; “Teachers in all regions with the exception of Ashanti and 2 districts in the Oti Region have received their laptops,” brought massive reactions to the topic.
Many teachers who have not yet received the laptops expressed their disappointment in the GES and the teacher unions. Others are worried about when they will receive their purchased laptops.
So, to GES and teacher unions, Ghanaian teachers are asking: “na yɛn laptops no wɔ he?
By: Michael Djan
French Tutor and Digital Marketing Blogger/Content Writer and GhanaWeb Professional Reporter/ frencheducationgh.com