Gov't Committed to Improving Teachers' Conditions - Churcher

TEACHERS are assured of government's preparedness in ensuring that their conditions of service are met during the governance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

This is to enhance effective and quality education in the country for national development.


The Minister for Basic, Secondary and Girl-child Education, Hon. Christine Churcher gave the assurance when she addressed teachers in the Brong Ahafo Region as part of her one-week tour of the region.


The tour was to ascertain at first hand, poor performance of students in the region.


According to the honourable minister, the NPP is "poised for action" and determined to turn the situation of teachers for the better.


Hon. Churcher stated that teachers have suffered for far too long in terms of unfavourable conditions of service adding that, it is now time for teachers' grievances to be resolved.


She told teachers that as minister responsible for ensuring quality education in the country, she would do everything possible within her power to make certain that; teachers have access to better conditions of service.

Hon. Churcher noted that the teacher has the power to "make and unmake a person".


She, however, was of the view that teachers be motivated and encouraged in their jobs to enhance quality education in the country.


In spite of the difficulties that teachers encounter, especially those in the rural areas, Ms. Churcher demanded that the NPP government be given time to solve their problems since the government is barely 10 months in power.


She, therefore, encouraged teachers to up-grade themselves to keep in touch with changing trends in the educational system.


During the tour, Hon. Churcher, also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast visited seven districts in the Brong Ahafo Region.


She inspected deprived schools in the region in order to have first hand information of their needs so as to work towards its realisation to ensure effective performance of students.

Hon. Churcher, however, took the opportunity to take pupils at the basic levels in distressed schools through learning drills to ascertain their performances in the classroom.


The Regional Director of Education responsible for the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Henry Ofori Awuah noted that when teachers go on study leave, they take up subjects that do not tally with subjects needed in schools.


He, therefore, urged teachers to opt for subjects that would be of interest to schools adding that, it would ensure effective teaching in schools.


Awuah further encouraged teachers who wanted to up-grade themselves in the next academic year, to put in their applications by the end of the year.