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Semester system for basic schools: Proposal is dead on arrival, kick it out - GNAT

Basic students to stay in school for six months

Govt considers restructure of basic education

KG pupils get tired by 12 noon, says GNAT General Secretary

 

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah, has described the decision by the government to introduce a semester system at the basic level of education as one that is dead on arrival.

He explained that it does not make professional sense that people who are at their formative years of education, would be subjected to such a system as going through semesters.

Citing international bodies like the UNICEF who have universally agreed learn through interaction and action, he believes the move is a wrong one.

“At the basic level, we teach; we don’t lecture, and if you look at UNICEF’s own concept of teaching and learning, they have what we call learning through play. You don’t go and lecture somebody at KG level: you learn through what we call play, it is activity-oriented. If you start with the children with this activity-oriented approach, and don’t forget that you are now doing that standard based curriculum, and this is a child-centered learning which is international,” he said.

In an interview on the JoyNews, monitored by GhanaWeb, he further explained that it gets worse that the new proposal seeks to keep children in school for up to six months.

This, he added, is not something that is practical and he explains why.

“And while we accept that even with UNICEF, who are promoting this, that children must learn through play, by 12:00, the KG children would have been tired and you see them sleeping in the class. Aside all that, you are asking the children to stay in school from January to somewhere June,” he added.

Thomas Musah also said that in all of his professional life as a teacher, this is an unthought-of thing for him and he is sure that even before its implementation, it is a decision that will fail.

“I have been in the system since 1989; you can calculate the number of years I have been in the teaching profession and so this particular thing that we are saying, it is dead on arrival; it is dangerous. To introduce a semester system at the KG level, it is dangerous,” he said.

 

Source: Ghana Web

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Teacher Unions reject semester system academic calendar

Find below a joint statement released by the GNAT, NAGRAT, TEWU and CCT-GH over

the new academic calendar..... 

 

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G.E.S released academic calendar for 2021/2022

After serious backlash over delays in releasing the academic calendar, the G.E.S released a new academic calendar for Pre-Tertiary Schools across the country. It may be recalled that the Minister of Education set-up a Committee to review the academic calendar for 2021/2022 academic year. Find below details of the new calendar:

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GNAT published Communique of 6th Quadrennial (53rd) National Delegates Conference

 

 

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Akufo-Addo announces home-owning retirement package for teachers

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced a new affordable-housing policy for teachers, adding that an opportunity will also be provided for them to own houses in desired locations in various parts of the country.

He said the affordable housing initiative will involve the provision of houses for both mortgage and rental.

To be made up of 10,000 units, the project will be completed by 2024.

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday, January 4 while addressing the 6th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Kumasi.

“I am fully aware that the one challenge facing teacher ownership of homes beyond finance is their inability to purchase home where they intend to retire,” the President said.

“Through a subsidised loan programme, teachers will be provided an opportunity to own houses in desired locations in various parts of the country.”

He said the Ministry of Works and Housing is in discussions with teacher unions including GNAT on this while the Ministry of Education is liaising with the National Service Scheme on it.

“Within the next two years, it is proposed that 10,000 housing units on affordable terms will be developed for teachers across the country.”

He also pledged to address the issue about concerns raised by teachers over the ‘One Teacher, One Laptop’ initiative.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

 

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Akufo-Addo promises teachers 10,000 housing units

President Akufo-Addo has assured teachers his government is working to provide accommodation for them within the next two years.

“The Works and Housing unit is in discussion with teacher unions, including your own, to provide more housing opportunities for teachers.

“Within the next two years, it is proposed that 10,000 housing units on affordable terms will be developed for teachers across the country,” the President said at the 6th Quadrennial and 53rd National Delegates Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Kumasi Tuesday.

He also assured teachers he will address their concerns over the ‘one teacher one laptop policy’.

“I am glad to hear how much you welcomed the supply of the laptops. I promise you that the other related matters of concern will be addressed. The relationship between GNAT and my government is a matter of concern to me, and I will do my very best to promote such a relationship.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has debunked allegations that the laptops acquired for teachers across the country are inferior.

Speaking to Naa Dedei on Starr Today, Monday 15th November 2021, the Ministry said they know what is best for the Ghanaian teacher adding “we know the value and the contribution of our teachers towards quality education and the things we need to supply to be able to put out the best in shaping the thought and destiny of this country.”

The Ministry also explained that every step of the way through the acquisition due diligence was done to procure the laptops for the teachers.

“Every process which needed to be followed throughout the procurement before the certification for it to be used in this country was duly followed. As we speak the machine is in use and nobody is complaining of its quality and how efficient the machine is. It is as good as any machine that can be found on the market.

“So these are things that are cropping up and as I indicated to you on the exact date, we will have our day in court and all other facts will be made available to the court and the good people of Ghana will get to hear it,” Yaw Opoku Mensah, the Deputy PRO reiterated in an interview with Starr FM.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM

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