Teachers To Be Paid Allowances Before Going On Leave

Accra, (Greater Accra Region) 1 Oct.,

Accra, (Greater Accra Region) 1 Oct., The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) today asked its members affected by the redeployment exercise not to go to their new areas until it has reached an agreement with the Ghana Education Service over their conditions of service. Mr Paul Osei-Mensah, General-Secretary, stressed that the Association supports the exercise which seeks to ensure equitable distribution of teachers, but wants those affected to be paid their transfer grants and transport allowances before they leave. ''They must also be given ample time to prepare for their transfer. We, therefore, appeal to the service to halt the exercise until measures are put in place to make sure that teachers do not suffer unduly''. Mr Osei-Mensah told journalists in Accra that even though some of them have been given up to October 15 to collect their letters or face dismissal, provision has not been made for their allowances. Mr Osei-Mensah said it is important that those posted to difficult areas are immediately given their allowances while those who need accommodation must be assisted. ''Since we heard about the exercise we have gone to the service twice but we have not received any response. ''Our investigations indicate that the director-general has not given any directive on the issue but it is the district directors who are doing their own thing''. ''It is unfortunate that GNAT was not consulted on this important issue. We wish to insist that GNAT should be involved in consultations as well as reaching agreement on educational policies especially when it concerns the rights and interests of teachers.''' Mr Osei-Mensah said so far about 4,000 teachers out of the 7,300 redeployees have received their letters. The GES is carrying out the exercise to correct the imbalance in the distribution of qualified and female teachers who are more in the urban areas and also eliminate over-staffing.