Untrained teachers contemplating abandoning programme

Drobo (B/A), Sept 30, GNA - Some of the untrained teachers in Jaman South District undertaking the four-year diploma training programme have abandoned the programme while others are contemplating doing the same due to financial constraints.

The number of trainees registered for the programme has dropped from 350 to 250, whilst only 70 of them participated in the cluster classes that lasted from September 15 to September 17. The teachers said they were facing serious financial constraints and that they might not be able to continue with the programme if the problems persisted.

The teachers told Ghana News Agency at Drobo that they paid boarding and lodging fees during vacation classes at Berekum Training College, feeding and tuition fees, cluster classes fees and token fees for lecturers, all amounting to about three million cedis per annum. The teachers, looking dejected and frustrated, said their efforts to obtain assistance from benevolent organisations, Ghana Education Service and the district assembly had not been successful. Spokespersons Mr Jacob Oteng Agyemang, Ms Anna Sawiri, Robert Yeboah and Kwasi Afful who briefed the GNA on the issue appealed to the GES, the district assembly and other stakeholders to come to their aid. When contacted Mrs Azuba Ayukor, the Jaman South District Education Director, said the district assembly did not have the resources to cater for their number.

She said the GES was also handicapped in giving any assistance to them, apart from endorsing their forms for loans.