District GNAT holds delegates conference

Wa, April, 28, GNA - Mr. Jacob Bagonluri, Upper West Regional Director of Education, said on Thursday that the success of the country's educational programmes and activities depends on a corps of competent and dedicated teachers to propel it to its desired ends. Mr Bagonluri, who was the guest speaker, made this observation at the second quadrennial district delegate's conference of the Wa district branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at Wa. Speaking on the theme: " sustainable education in Ghana- the role of the teacher", Mr Bagonluri expressed displeasure that in spite of all the efforts by the government and other development partners to enhance education accessibility and provide quality education for all children of school going age in the Wa municipality, about thirty-five per cent of the children are still not in school.

He reminded teachers that the success and sustainability of education requires, a teacher who could effectively make use of what he or she had been provided as well as building on it.

The regional director of education said a lot of resources had been committed to sustain and move education forward and urged teachers to do everything possible to ensure that the ultimate objectives of school are achieved.

He further urged teachers to strive to become positive role models for their students who would one day, remember them for the positive influence they had made on their lives.

Mr Bagonluri was also not happy with the Upper West Region's performance in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), and urged the teachers to accept as a challenge, to work hard to improve the region's position on the examination result table. In his address, Mr Martin Asamannaba, Upper West Regional GNAT secretary said it is the view of GNAT that until government was able to assist teachers pursuing distance education programmes, the quota system of granting study leave pay to teachers be suspended.

He regretted that it took the Ghana education service nine months to complete the process of selecting teachers who in the view of the (GES) were qualified for study leave with pay.

On the issue of government handing over schools which were previously run by religious bodies but now under the public education system, back to their previous owners, Mr Asamannaba asked government to explain to Ghanaians the reason behind the move.

In his welcoming address, Mr Basiru Mumuni, the district GNAT secretary explained that the conference would enable members to take stock of the association's achievements and shortcoming over the past four years and plan for the next years.

During the conference, delegates will elect new executives to run the affairs of the association in the district for the next four years. Mr Godfrey Tangu, acting Wa Municipal Chief Executive and Member of Parliament for Wa East enumerated a number of projects and initiatives the government had implemented aimed at improving living conditions in the rural areas.

These include the construction of school blocks, accommodation for teachers and construction of roads to open up inaccessible communities to vehicular transportation. April 28 05