Teachers call for better condition as Ghana celebrates World Teachers' Day
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot

Accra, Oct 5, Ghanadot - World Teachers' Day, held annually on October 5th since 1994, commemorates teachers’ organisations worldwide. Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.

According to the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), World Teachers' Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.

Over 100 countries observe World Teachers' Day. The efforts of Education International and its 401 member organisations have contributed to this widely spread recognition.

This year’s theme for the celebration is “Build the Future: Invest in Teachers Now”

In an interview with Ghanadot.com, the President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr. Joseph Kweku Adjei explained that the celebration for this year focuses on the global teacher shortage and the challenges of being a teacher today.

According to him, the endemic shortage of professional teachers was a serious problem which continued to affect the educational system, as 567 professional graduate teachers who submitted their posting forms to the Ghana Education Service (GES) were denied the chance to teach.

He noted that the subject areas that lacked teachers most were English language, science and technical subjects and urged government to address the situation by creating opportunities for teachers in such specialised areas.

The GNAT President was unhappy on the continuous political interference in matters of education, which to him, was negatively affecting quality education in the country.

Touching on salaries and teacher motivation, Mr. Adjei said the time has come for government to improve on the working condition of teachers in the country, adding that giving the right materials and improving infrastructure will help teachers give out their best to adequately teach the Ghanaian child.

When asked whether the poor performance of the graduates of the just ended B.E.C.E was as a result of lack of teacher motivation and low standard of living for teachers to teach better, he said that may be a factor and called on teachers to use this day to reflect on how to help save the falling standard of education in the country.

Ghanadot
 

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