The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has described as empty threats issued by Education Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh that head teachers of basic and second cycle schools would be sacked if 90 per cent of their students fail the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Dr Prempeh, while addressing heads of senior high schools in Kumasi as part of a two-day familiarisation tour of the Ashanti Region, warned that the Ministry would not continue to tolerate school heads who superintend over consistently poor performances.
He said, among other things: "Any school head who superintends over a failure of over 90 per cent cannot be allowed to continue operating without accounting to the Ghana Education Service (GES).”
But reacting to these comments in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom, on Accra on Thursday February 16, David Ofori Acheampong, GNAT General Secretary, said: “This is really a threat but an empty threat. On what grounds is he going to sack the teachers?
“As we speak, you will not find a single syllabus in the basic schools –we only have that for kindergarten. When I started teaching, my headmasters gave me a syllabus and textbooks to use to teach; today, the situation is different.
They have supplied the syllabus as soft copies, asking us to go and print. Even in Accra, how many people have access to internet facilities – not to talk of those in the rural areas?
“Moreover, there are several defects in our educational system that government hasn’t addressed and now they are talking about sacking head teachers. This is unacceptable, it is unfortunate that he made those comments.”
Source: Classfmonline
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master, you said u want npp n they have come so shuuut uuup n observed, you have not see anything yet. fooolissssh.
Mr. GNAT secretary please know that, you are an employee. You are paid to deliver a service. If you cannot deliver then just resign. You need to justify the use of tax payers money. Simple!!
I sometimes don't understand teachers, always justifying failures. If some of them think they are not competent enough to be headmasters they should leave for competent ones. How can u justify 90% failure and still call urself headmaster?
NAPO, SACK THEM, ALL OF THEM. I WANT MY CHILD TO BE A DOCTOR.WE WANT THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL I ABROAD.WE WANT THE BEST. SACK THEM.
From frying pan to fire. So therefore therefore !!!!!.
The GNAT Sec should come again. Is it not the same logistical challenges being faced by all schools? Why are others performing and others not? I agree that government should provide the necessary logistics for effective teaching and learning but this notwithstanding, what will be your business as head if over 90% of your students fail and other schools perform better in the face of these challenges. It is high time our unions become more sensible in their leadership styles. Being a "rebel" is not a measure of good Union leadership
I have always held the view that our Teachers are being pampered too much to the extent that the feel they are untouchable. Despite all logistical challenges which we all agree but so it is with all department and yet there is targets for people to achieve results. Out of 100% if you can not achieve more than 10% pass mark, what will be your justification for occupying the position as head master.Without accountability and people held responsible for bad output,this our Teachers will definitely relax and think that they are rather doing a service to the nation instead of knowing that, it is work they are doing and they get paid for it. All that they know is strike strike and nothing else.
NO WOUNDER THE NDC GOVERNMENT WAS VERY HARD OR DIFFICULT AND UNCOMPROMISING ON YOU TEACHERS AND YOUR SENSELESS GNAT BODY. WE SHALL SEEEEEEEEE