GNAT advocates effective teaching
Policymakers have been asked to plan towards effective teaching and learning in the country, instead of determining the success of the educational sector by the number of children in school
Mrs Irene Duncan –Adanusa, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), who made the call, said: “the philosophy and goal of education must be the acquisition of relevant knowledge, equipping learners with life skills, building positive perspectives and inculcating in learners positive attitudes and values grounded in our culture.”
The General Secretary made the call in a speech read on her behalf at the opening of the 4th Quadrennial Upper East Regional Delegates’ Conference of the GNAT, in Bolgatanga on Tuesday.
She said the luck of multi-disciplinary approach to education delivery was also detrimental to the attainment of quality education, adding that there was the need for Social Workers, Counsellors, Psychologists and other stakeholders to play roles in the educational system.
Mrs Duncan–Adanusa expressed regret at the level of politicisation of education in the country, and called for a national education policy devoid of politics.
She said: “investing in education and formulating policies that are grounded on logic and time-tested principles are vehicles for national development and must be seen as sacred duty”.
Mrs Duncan–Adanusa said gone were the days when teachers and books were ‘information oracles’.
She said both students and teachers must be equipped with Information and Communication Technology skills and equipment.
The General Secretary said this would help students think critically, solve problems, make informed judgement and acquire knowledge.
Mrs Duncan-Adanuse advised Government to take measures to attract and retain teachers and reward the outstanding ones.
He also said there should be more in-service training for teachers, availability of learning and teaching materials and educational infrastructure.
Mrs Duncan-Adanuse said ‘’failures in the education sector must be fixed. Delays in promotions, upgrading and salary adjustment of teachers must be given priority attention.”
Mr Stephen Gebute, Upper East Regional Chairman of GNAT, said the event which was on the theme: “Education in Crisis by 2015: the Role of Stakeholders” was to take stock of the activities carried out over the period under review and plan for the future of the association.
He said GNAT as a trade union did not only negotiate for better salary and improvement in working conditions for its members but also carried out projects and programmes to improve on teaching and learning.
He mentioned the Science Project that empowered female teachers with the requisite knowledge to teach science, the teacher community project, organised in the Kassena-Nankana West and East Districts, to improve the quality of teachers, construction of conference halls in the region among others.
Mr Gebute advised teachers to avoid lateness, absenteeism and drunkenness that affect teaching and learning.
Source: GNA