Inadequate qualified teachers attributed to poor service conditions

Nkawie (Ash), Feb. 4, GNA - Participants at a three-day Untrained Teacher Training Diploma in Basic Education (UTTDBE) workshop at Nkawie in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district have attributed the inadequate qualified teachers in the public educational system to unattractive service conditions and poor remunerations.

This, they noted, had resulted in frustration among the teachers leading to a large number of them leaving the profession to take more lucrative appointments with other departments and organizations.

In a resolution adopted at the end of the workshop, the 50 participants, who are heads of basic schools in the District, noted that apart from the lack of basic social amenities like electricity, decent living accommodation, potable drinking water, health facilities and good and accessible roads in some communities, which discourage the teachers from accepting postings to the areas, other communities are also hostile to them.

It said some teachers had always been at the receiving end of societal injustice where they were assaulted, threatened and victimized for punishing undisciplined pupils.

Teachers, the resolution added, contributed meaningfully to the nation's social and economic development and must therefore be adequately motivated and accorded respect and dignity.

The participants observed that, the provision of educational infrastructure and other facilities in addition to the increased capacity building of the teacher would contribute little to the provision of quality teaching and learning if the service conditions and other motivational remunerations were not appropriately improved. In his closing remarks, Mr Kwaku Ansah Ohene-Apau, the District Training Officer told the participants to be proactive and innovative to ensure the success of the UTTDBE programme.

He observed that an efficient teacher was the one who had drive and enthusiasm and could spur the pupils on to greater heights in the midst of scarcity and advised them to be committed and dedicated to the profession.