Eastern Region Teachers to advise themselves if allowances are not paid

Koforidua, May 20, GNA-Teachers in the Eastern Region have threatened to "advise themselves" should payment of professional allowances and allowances for Science, Mathematics, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Vocational teachers not included in their May salaries. A statement signed by Mr. Nathaniel Lawer Apronti, Eastern Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), in Koforidua observed with "dismay and utter frustration" that the first part of the signed agreement with the Government had not been implemented without any explanation.

The statement said that situation implied that the subsequent ones would not be implemented adding, "Teachers of Ghana have been patient for so long that it even sounds ridiculous".

The statement recalled that since September 2006, when negotiations began on the review of conditions of service for teachers in the country, they had waited patiently for its implementation.

It mentioned some of the specific agreements as payment of professional allowances of 15 per cent of gross salary to all certificated teachers. It also mentioned payment of special allowance of 10 per cent of monthly gross salary to teachers who studied Science, ICT, Technical/Vocational and Mathematics and who are teaching the subjects. Other signed agreements are incentive of 20 per cent of gross salary for teachers who work in deprived communities and financial support for teachers who are on distant learning programme in the universities. The statement said consequent to that agreement; a road map was evolved to facilitate the implementation.

It said payment of the professional allowances of 15 per cent of the gross salary of all certificated teachers was to be effected at the end of April 2010.

"Payment of all allowances for Science, ICT, Mathematics, Technical/Vocational teachers to be effected at the end of May 2010." The statement said payment of allowances to teachers in difficult and deprived areas to be effected at the end of June 2010.