The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) have lauded the competence of the Minister of Education-designate Haruna Iddrisu to resolve problems in the education sector.
Leadership of the two unions have asked the sector minister-designate to be swift in beginning a review of the Free SHS policy, addressing salaries of teachers and implementing their conditions service.
The leadership spoke exclusively with 3news’ labour affairs correspondent Daniel Opoku in Accra.
President Mahama has nominated the Member of Parliament for Tamale South as the minister-designate for education. His appointment has generated satisfaction among the rank and file of the leadership of the teacher unions.
President of NAGRAT, Eric Angel Carbonu underscored the competence of the minister-designate. He called on him to begin stakeholder engagement on the Free SHS programme.
“The issue about Free SHS, the tortuous path to bring the Free SHS policy to acceptable levels. We know the controversy surrounding the Free SHS, feeding and lack of resources in the school, how to handle Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), how to handle parents, how to handle the unions, and the teachers,” he said.
He said other areas of concern for Mr Iddrisu to consider are issues on salaries.
“Teachers’ salaries, mechanization, automation, digitalization within the Ghana Education Service, the problems to do with people’s salaries not being paid, Haruna is capable, and I would want to work with him,” he added.
The General Secretary of TEWU, King James Azortibah appealed to the minister-designate to address issues facing their members at the tertiary level.
“We are very happy that his Excellency the President is making sure that ministers responsible to act have been to put in place and we welcome him. As swift as possible, this issue of conditions of service must be addressed, we know we should sit and resolve it and report back to the Labour Commission by 29th of January,” Mr Azortibah said.
The General Secretary of TEWU added, “We have long pending issues and conditions of service to be signed for the Ghana Education Service, the public universities, the technical universities, Museums and Monuments Board, Ghana Library Authority and among other issues.”
