The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has shown a willingness to participate actively in the National Education Forum to discuss funding deficiencies in the country’s educational system. This follows President John Dramani Mahama’s formation of an eight-member committee to supervise the organization of the National Education reform, aimed at promoting public discussions on enhancing the educational sector in Ghana.
In an interview on Channel One Newsroom, Thomas Tanko Musah, the General Secretary of GNAT, expressed concerns about several pressing issues. He highlighted the debts owed to the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the difficulties in financing the School Feeding Programme for basic schools across the country, and the outstanding capitation grant. Additionally, he raised alarms about the increasing cases of student indiscipline observed recently in some Senior High Schools and called for necessary reforms in the disciplinary system.
The major problem facing us is funding. All the problems we are going to discuss, it is about where to get money, pay for them. And like I always say, a capitation grant is in arrears for over two years. We are owing WAEC for over GH¢100 million. The school feeding, we are owing. How can we feed students GH¢1.30 a day? We will go there and bring to their attention that currently as a people, we have lost the effective aspect of training our children which has to do with character and conscience. And we will run into danger when we train children with knowledge and they don’t have character.
“We must revisit the issue where we have disabled the headmasters and everything, otherwise we will be in trouble in the coming years.”
By: Sarah Appiah
