NAGRAT Issues Five-Day Ultimatum for Immediate Reinstatement of Salaries Withheld from Teachers at Akwamuman Senior High School
The Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Asuogyaman Education Directorate and the headmaster of Akwamuman Senior High School, demanding the immediate reinstatement of salaries withheld from teachers for July and August. This action stems from allegations that Headmaster Anim-Addo Asuoko withheld the salaries of several teachers as a punitive measure for their absence from a Professional Learning Community (PLC) session.
NAGRAT contends that the headmaster’s actions exceed the authority granted under the Ghana Education Service (GES) code of conduct, which, according to the association, does not endorse salary suspension or mandate apology letters as a penalty for missing PLC meetings.
The PLC initiative, introduced roughly eight years ago, aims to enhance teachers’ skills through continuous professional development (CPD) and to provide them with opportunities to earn credit points. Attendance at these sessions, while encouraged, is not linked to teachers’ salaries under GES guidelines. NAGRAT is concerned that such punitive measures may lead to a hostile work environment, diminishing teacher morale and motivation.
During a press briefing on October 25 at NAGRAT’s Eastern Regional Secretariat in Koforidua, NAGRAT Eastern Regional Chairman, Awoonor-Yevu Godwin, decried the headmaster’s actions as “disheartening” and counterproductive. He underscored that creating a positive environment is essential for teacher productivity and cautioned that such punitive practices undermine the essential goals of the GES in supporting teacher development.
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Mr. Awoonor-Yevu further elaborated, “It has come to our attention that teachers who were unable to attend the Professional Learning Community sessions are being unfairly treated and penalized. Nowhere in the GES condition of service does it specify that failure to attend PLC sessions allows headmasters to withhold salaries or insist on apology letters before releasing funds.”
He reiterated that headmasters lack the authority to embargo teachers’ salaries for non-attendance at PLC sessions, noting that such actions are both unfair and detrimental to the morale of dedicated educators.
In addition to urging the headmaster to lift the salary embargo, NAGRAT called upon municipal and district education directors to refrain from engaging in similar actions against teachers who miss CPD or PLC sessions. The association warned that should the withheld salaries not be reinstated within the stipulated five-day period, further actions would be considered to ensure that teachers’ rights and professional conditions are respected.
NAGRAT’s stance highlights the association’s commitment to protecting teachers’ rights and maintaining a supportive environment within the Ghana Education Service, emphasizing that constructive measures, rather than punitive actions, foster growth and professionalism among teachers.
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