GNAT condemns education minister’s threat to close underperforming schools

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has condemned Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the country’s minister of education, for threatening to close schools that don’t raise their test scores.

The Minister pressed the leaders of schools and technical institutions to generate quality outcomes during a meeting with the Conference of Heads of Aided Secondary Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He suggested implementing intervention programmes in schools with a pass percentage of less than 10% to aid pupils in performing well on exams.

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The Minister made the case that closing underperforming schools would spare the government money losses and allow impacted students to transfer to neighbouring schools to finish their education.

Nevertheless, Thomas Musah, the general secretary of GNAT, disapproved of the Minister’s remarks and thought they were improper.

“This is completely out of place. That is not the appropriate place for that comment. Put all the students who attend the schools he is referring to, many of whom have subpar marks, in one location and expect the administrators to work some sort of magic. Sometimes, the Minister should seek advice” he said.

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