Michael Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as “Teacher Kwadwo”, is a Ghanaian YouTuber, comedian, and a former employee of the Ghana Education Service. In recent years, he has used his platform to advocate for the rights of teachers and bring attention to the challenges they face in Ghana.
In a recent video, Teacher Kwadwo re-iterated that teachers are treated as slaves in Ghana, while the needs of the learners are often neglected. He criticized the government’s handling of the Teaching and Learning Resource (TLR) policy, which he says has led to the forced collection of money from teachers for the supply of laptops that are yet to be received.
The TLR policy, introduced by the Ghana Education Service, aims to improve teaching and learning through the provision of resources such as textbooks, e-books, and laptops to teachers. However, Teacher Kwadwo claims that the policy has not been implemented effectively and that teachers have been left to bear the brunt of the cost.
Teacher Kwadwo’s comments echo the sentiments of many teachers in Ghana who have been calling for better treatment and working conditions. The lack of support and resources for teachers has led to low morale, poor job satisfaction, and even strikes in some cases.
According to a recent report by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the average teacher salary in Ghana is among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, and many teachers have to take on extra jobs to make ends meet. This has resulted in a shortage of qualified and experienced teachers, which has a negative impact on the quality of education in the country.
Teacher Kwadwo’s advocacy for the rights of teachers in Ghana is commendable, and it is important that his message is heard and acted upon. Teachers are the backbone of the education system, and their well-being is crucial to the success of the system as a whole.
In conclusion, the treatment of teachers in Ghana is a cause for concern, and urgent action is needed to address the challenges they face. The government and other stakeholders in the education sector must work together to provide better support and resources for teachers, and to ensure that they are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Only then can we build a strong and sustainable education system that benefits both teachers and learners.