The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has outlined some reforms it seeks to implement to reset the education sector and enhance better outcomes.
The party has highlighted several reforms it will implement, from teacher and training welfare to basic, secondary, and tertiary education.
According to the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, the Nana Addo-led administration has distorted the sector, which can be seen through the acute infrastructural deficit across all levels of education, lack of investment in the professional needs of teachers, and inadequate teaching and learning materials, among other challenges.
To help address these challenges, Dr. Clement Apaak has announced eight key initiatives the party seeks to implement to improve teacher training and teacher welfare.
The party will, among other initiatives, launch the ‘’Teacher Dabre’ project to provide accommodation facilities for teachers within new school buildings and also introduce 20 percent of the basic salary for teachers who accept postings to rural and undeserved communities.
He also reiterated the promise by the party to abolish licensure exams and integrate the licensing process into the final year examination of trainees.
The party further pledged to scrap the NPP’s mandatory national service for teacher trainee graduates and replace it with automatic employment of newly qualified trained teachers.
He highlighted these at the party’s maiden press conference, addressed by sectoral spokespersons for the John Dramani Mahama campaign.
Below are the highlights on teacher trainees and teacher welfare;
*Teacher Training and Teacher Welfare*
The next NDC/Mahama government, will:
1. prioritize the timely promotion of teachers and ensure the availability of funds for their remuneration;
2. institute the “Teacher Dabr3” Project to provide accommodation facilities for teachers within new school buildings;
3. introduce a special allowance of 20 percent of basic salary for teachers who accept postings to rural and underserved communities;
4. abolish the teacher licensure examination and integrate the licensing process into the final year examination of trainees;
5. scrap the NPP’s mandatory national service for teacher trainee graduates and restore the automatic employment of newly qualified teachers;
6. partner with teacher unions to initiate the Government Assisted Mortgage Scheme (GAMOS) to support teachers to own homes;
7. initiate a scheme to assist teachers own vehicles of their choice by offering flexible duty payments arrangements and government guarantees in partnership with teacher unions and the banking sector;
8. establish a College of Education in the Afram Plains enclave to address the acute professional teacher deficit.
By: rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
