DON’T BE INTIMIDATED, SPEAK OUT- GNAT PRESIDENT TO MEMBERS

The National president for the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu has mentioned on Kastle FM that a thirty seventy payment was agreed between GNAT and the government for the acquisition of laptops for teachers.
He said on the Me man Ho Do show during an interview with Kwaku Arhin that the agreement was made as the government asserted it could not bare the total cost for the laptops. According to Rev. Owusu, an amount of 509 Ghana cedis was deducted from the pockets of teachers in November 2021 to make up for the 30 percent.
However, he expressed the discomfort of some of the teachers as it has been two years they have not received their laptops after several efforts from the various executives proved futile. He disclosed that after a meeting held by GNAT and the government at GES, they were assured of laptops on the 31st of this month.
“Those who have not gotten theirs are the primary school teachers. A lot from Junior High Schools have received their laptops as well as teachers in Senior High Schools and Kindergartens. The problem now is those in primary have not received theirs and they are outnumbered. After our meeting, we were made to understand that 70,000 laptops were left to be shared to primary school teachers which they promised to give out. “
Rev. Owusu emphasized that the challenge they face as spokespeople for teachers in the country was the fact that they could not publish information from meetings with the government unless discussions were finalised. As a result, the various unions were known to be dormant.
“The efforts from the unions many deem to be low is false. We have what we call Good Faith in labour practice where during a conversation with a section in private, the other section does not publicize the proceedings until final decisions are made. That is what I’ve noticed to be a challenge to us. So, before we decide on embarking on anything, our people might think we do nothing. “
He acknowledged that the media has played a part on influencing the government to perform some responsibilities. Rev. Owusu stated that through the social media, headteachers and some teachers have received aid from philanthropist and the government. He encouraged individuals to take charge of the social media without interruption from officials in order to reach utmost results.
He further noted that, the time has come for the teachers to speak out their grievances because they have been intimidated for a long time by their employers (Government) hence putting some fear in them.
He further noted that, unlike the previous administration, the current leaders will always stand by the teachers in pursuing their welfare and they will see it that, the concerns of the teachers have been meet by the government.
He however urged the teachers to use the advent of social media to appeal to the public to provide some help to challenging schools as some of their colleagues have using off late in the country to appeal to the public without fear.                                                                                                                                                                            Story by Kwamena Essuman