Accra: Professor Mrs. Goski Alabi, Vice Chancellor of Accra Metropolitan University, has made an urgent call to the government for a review and update of the rural community classifications to ensure fair application of the 20 per cent rural allowance for teachers. She highlighted the importance of equity in determining which communities qualify as deprived or rural.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Alabi delivered the keynote address at the seventh quadrennial and the 54th delegates conference of the Ho District branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT). She pointed out the disparities, noting, "There are poor urban communities whose living and working conditions are far worse than some areas currently classified as rural. It is time for the government to reassess and reclassify these areas based on current realities."
The conference, themed 'The Ghana Education Service @50: Achievements, Teacher Motivation, Challenges and the Way Forward,' provided a platform for Prof. Alabi to stress that a review of the allowance would ensure that educators in the most deprived environments benefit from the motivation it is intended to provide. She also emphasized the need to prioritize teacher development in education policy, advocating for equipping teachers with modern teaching skills.
Prof. Alabi further highlighted the necessity of providing teachers with laptops and digital skills training to enhance their classroom effectiveness. She called on the government to honor commitments to improve teachers' working conditions, including the promised 'Teacher Dabre' package and the prompt distribution of the 20 per cent allowance.
In support of teacher development, Alabi announced that Accra Metropolitan University would offer 50 per cent scholarships to 20 teachers in the Ho District. She reminded teachers of their significant role as educators and role models, stating, "The teacher is not just a dispenser of knowledge, but a builder of character. We must uphold the dignity of the profession by living exemplary lives."
Prof. Alabi urged policymakers to turn promises into actionable policies and encouraged community investment in supporting teachers. She declared, "Never tire in your advocacy, for in it lies the dignity of our teachers. In your resilience lies the hope of our children, and in your unity lies the strength of our nation."
Concluding her address, she called for increased government investment in educators, underscoring the importance of teachers in shaping the country's future. Ms. Lois Tipong-Asare, GNAT Chairperson for Ho District, echoed Alabi's sentiments, pressing for the swift implementation of the 20 per cent rural area teacher motivation allowance. She emphasized that timely action would boost morale and incentivize teachers working in challenging conditions.
"We urge the government to act quickly so our colleagues in the villages can begin to benefit from this important policy," Ms. Tipong-Asare concluded.
