We will give teachers a better deal - President Akufo Addo




The President Nana Akufo Addo says government will make teaching an attractive career choice by ensuring teachers get better salary, better working conditions and a more secured retirement. He noted that it is only well motivated and trained teachers who can deliver the work force needed to transform the economy. 

Speaking at the 21st Congregation of the University of Education, Winneba, President Akufo Addo said the teaching profession must no longer be seen as a stop-gap measure or a job of last resort, but as a viable choice to enter a well-paid, well-respected profession with long term career prospects and good benefits.  

In all,  more than 10 thousand  students graduated at various levels  in the 2016/17 academic year. Six-thousand  were from the Northern sector and three-thousand-943 from the Southern sector. 7 students graduated with PhD and 904 post graduates. More than 6-thousand students graduated with Bachelor's degree and  three-thousand-674 graduated with diploma.  More than a hundred students obtained  masters of philosophy (MPhil) degree and other related fields.  

President  Akufo Addo said government intends to facilitate teacher training nationwide and initiate  special incentives  such as support for teachers to help them to  acquire their own homes. Government will also support teachers to enroll in Distance Education programmes to boost their capacity. This is in line with government policy of motivating teachers, and rewarding hard work in the classroom. 

President Akufo Addo announced the restoration of the  teacher training allowance that was cancelled by the previous government. As a policy, government will partner and support public Universities , with the aim of raising and improving standards so as to compete with the best on the continent. He said this will make Ghanaian Universities rank  amongst the top 10 on the continent. 

The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Afful Broni asked the graduating students to accept postings to deprived communities. Chairman of the governing Council of the university, Professor Nicholas Abaka appealed to government to pay special attention to the colleges of education. He said the University will find innovative ways to improve distance education.
                        

Story: Bright Ntramah
GBCONLINE