GNAT urges government to feature IT prominently in teachers’ training

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA – The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on Thursday urged government to feature Information Technology (IT) prominently on the curricula of all Colleges of Education to equip teachers with IT knowledge.

“The benefit that will accrue to this country as we pursue such a programme cannot be over-emphasised,” Mr Samuel Doe Alobuia, Acting National President of GNAT said in Accra.

At a media launch of this year’s GNAT Week and World Teachers Day, he emphasised the need for government to sustain the Basic School Computerisation Project and noted that internet infrastructure should be available all over the country and supported by solar energy.

This year’s GNAT Week/Teachers Day celebration is on the theme: “Teachers for Gender Equality” and would be climaxed on Wednesday, October 5, at the Jubilee Park in Takoradi, Western Region with the Best Teacher Awards.

Mr Alobuia pointed out that for millions of teachers and girls worldwide, the goal of gender equality remained an unfulfilled commitment and all must work to bring about a change.

He noted that GNAT was a member of Education International (EI), a global family of educationists and was of the conviction that teachers must be accorded the respect due them and motivated to deliver the goods.

Explaining why teachers’ day is celebrated in tandem with GNAT Week in Ghana, Mr Alobuia said the Association wanted to use the occasion to sensitise members of their activities as well as award deserving teachers for their contribution to the stability and growth of GNAT.

The two events also seek to draw public attention to the role of teachers worldwide and their importance in society.

Mr Alobuia called on Ghanaians to show solidarity with teachers to reward successful and most innovative teachers in the classrooms.

Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa, General Secretary of GNAT said there was indeed many to be achieved in terms of gender equality and urged teachers to work hard in that direction.

She mentioned the issue of maternity leave for women teachers as one of the issues that had not been fully concluded and called for further discussion on gender issues.