GNAT demands better compensation, rest for double-track teachers
Accra, Ghana - November 1, 2024 - The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Tanko Musah, has sounded the alarm on the dire working conditions of teachers under the double-track school system.
In an interview with Citi News, Musah emphasized the urgent need for sufficient rest periods and adequate compensation for teachers, citing the immense strain the system has placed on them ¹.
Musah's concerns come on the heels of Education Minister Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum's warning against abolishing the double-track system, citing potential negative consequences on students' education.
However, Musah argues that the government must prioritize teachers' well-being and develop a comprehensive compensation plan to support educators working within this framework.
“Giving the worker leave is good. It enables the worker to rest, refresh, prepare and come back. Even the labour law tells us that a worker cannot sell his leave. Leave now is compulsory. Even vehicles, there’s a time every month or a time you need to go for servicing. What about you human beings?
“And so the concern is that teachers who are in the double track schools are not resting and the compensation given to them is not coming.
“What we all need to look at is that if the double track cannot be resolved this year, then the schools that will be doing the double track should look at what package we will have for teachers because we cannot have a system where the teachers in those schools are working 24/7 without compensation. They must be compensated.”
Key Concerns:
- Insufficient Rest: Teachers under the double-track system are not getting adequate rest, leading to burnout and decreased productivity.
- Inadequate Compensation: Teachers are not receiving fair compensation for their work, exacerbating the challenges of the double-track system.
- Labour Law: Musah highlights that labour laws dictate compulsory leave for workers, yet teachers are being denied this basic right.
Call to Action:
Musah stresses that if the double-track system cannot be resolved this year, schools must provide a suitable package for teachers to ensure they are not working 24/7 without compensation.
