Some elementary school teachers in the Upper East Region have expressed grave worry about the current administration’s handling of the educational sector.
Teachers claim that the NPP administration has made a substantial cut to the educational sector, claiming that teachers and pupils are unaware of the curriculum.
Teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with the Ghana Education Service’s agreement to reduce the number of teaching weeks from 43 to 40 for the academic year in collaboration with the Ghana National Association of Teachers, claiming that the teaching profession had lost its significance.
“As I speak with you, we have no idea what we taught these pupils in the first semester.” I can’t put my finger on it as a teacher. In certain ways, the educational industry is transforming. The sad issue is that as instructors, we are unable to speak up. Even as I speak to you, I’m praying that God may confuse you so that you don’t record me and broadcast it. “I’m afraid,” one teacher told A1 Radio anonymously.
“If you take the then and now, you will understand from the students’ performance that they are actually not learning anything,” another teacher said. The PTA was active and supportive back then; today, it’s a different story. Today’s teachers, who used to speak frankly, make a blunder and see where you’ll sleep. Teachers are not allowed to express their concerns by the current government. And how can we make good adjustments if we don’t communicate our concerns?”
“We left with a week to vacate kids under the Ghana Education Service’s calendar,” another instructor added, “but my brother, we have no idea where the exam questions are coming from.” There were no communications, no nothing. Is this how we should operate our educational systems, please? My brother, there is a lot going on that needs to be addressed, but don’t make the mistake of speaking up or they will send you to a place where you will not enjoy working. My younger sister is a living example of this. And the irony was that she was a member of the ruling party at the time, so I’m being cautious here.”
Meanwhile, the service has instructed heads and regional and district directors to follow the new KG, Primary, and JHS closing times.