Teachers call for extra-duty allowance

Akim Swedru, Oct 09, GNA - The Birim South District of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to institute extra-duty allowance for teachers as being done to some health professionals.

Mr Emmanuel Y. Adjei Kportey, the District GNAT Chairman, made the call at the District Teachers' Day celebration held at Akim Swedru on Friday under the theme "Quality teaching, quality education". About 30 teachers who retired during the year were presented with gifts and certificates.

Mr Adjei-Kportey said the payment of extra-duty allowance to teachers had become necessary because after normal classes the teacher had to carry assignments home for marking.

"The teacher, therefore, virtually works for 20 hours a day if properly calculated".

He expressed concern about the failure of the district assembly to give yearly awards to teachers for the past three years even though teachers were taken through the vigorous selection inspections and interviews.

Mr Adjei-Kportey also expressed concern about the failure of the GES and the government to pay teachers their transfer grants, transport allowances as well as "the "meagre and shameful 25,000 cedis medical bills" over the years

He said over 400 teachers in the area had subscribed to the Teachers' Housing Scheme at Akim Oda and Akim Achease.

Mr Richard Sagode, the Assistant Eastern Regional Secretary of mentally-motivated teachers to enhance quality teaching. The Omanhene of the Akyem Bosome Traditional Area, Okotwasuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum, III, who presided, said he was not happy about frustrations retired teachers go through before getting their pension benefits and urged the authorities to take steps to address the situation.