National Education Forum Committee Urges Mahama Administration to Prioritize Teacher Salaries
The National Education Forum Committee has called on the Mahama administration to prioritize the enhancement of salary packages and welfare for teachers, especially those serving in underprivileged communities.
This recommendation comes after a three-week engagement with various stakeholders, aimed at identifying key challenges within the education sector and proposing meaningful reforms to address them.
At the closing ceremony of the forum, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, the committee’s chairman, underscored the importance of improving teacher welfare as a critical factor in elevating the quality of education in Ghana. He emphasized that teachers in disadvantaged areas, in particular, require additional support in the form of better allowances, housing provisions, and overall salary packages.
“Teacher motivation and welfare require enhancement. We recommend improvements in the provision of accommodation and allowances for teachers in deprived areas, while improving, generally, teachers’ salaries and welfare, including scholarships,” Prof. Oduro stated during the forum’s conclusion.
The committee’s recommendations reflect a growing concern for the challenges faced by teachers, particularly in underserved regions, and the need for systemic changes to support their vital role in shaping the country’s future. Enhancing teacher welfare is seen as a key strategy to improve educational outcomes across the nation.
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Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who attended the closing ceremony, assured the committee that the government would take their proposals seriously. “I wish to assure members of the committee and all of us that your recommendations will not gather dust on the shelf,” she said, expressing the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised.
Additionally, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang addressed the stigma surrounding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), rejecting the notion that students pursuing these fields lack academic talent. She reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing the quality and prestige of TVET, which plays a significant role in the country’s economic development.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to improving the education sector, with a focus on increasing funding through the National Research Fund.
He highlighted that a substantial portion of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will be directed towards strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training programs, thereby ensuring a more diverse and skilled workforce.
The National Education Forum Committee’s recommendations bring to light the urgent need for policies that not only improve teacher welfare but also address broader educational challenges in Ghana. With the government’s commitment to considering these proposals, there is hope that these reforms will lead to a more sustainable and equitable education system, benefiting both teachers and students alike.
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