Change three- term educational cycle to two semesters at basic, secondary levels- GNAT
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has suggested to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to consider changing the three-term education cycle at the basic and secondary levels to two semesters.
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The General Secretary of GNAT, Mr David Ofori Acheampong, who made the suggestion, explained that when implemented, the first semester of the school could be scheduled between August and December, while the second semester could also start from February to May so that the two vacation periods could be programmed for the various courses of study for both teachers and other professionals who intended pursuing various courses.
He said the change would prevent teachers from leaving the classrooms to attend sandwich programmes at the expense of teaching students and added that the change would also create the platform for many more teachers to pursue further studies to enrich their teaching skills without having to go on study leave which would result in shortage of teachers in schools.
Training workshop
Mr Acheampong made the suggestion at the opening of a one-week training workshop organised by GNAT, in collaboration with the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF), for some selected teachers in the country.
In attendance were more than 400 teachers, as well as some newly trained teachers from the Ashanti Region, who covered subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English Language, French, Social Studies and Early Childhood Education.
The training workshop, which is the 54th edition by GNAT/CTF and dubbed “Professional Development (Project Oversee)”, would also benefit teachers from the Eastern and Volta regions at a cost of GH¢1.5 million.
The two teacher groups have for the past 54 years been collaborating in the training and upgrading of skills of teachers in the two countries, and the course for the Ghanaian teachers is aimed at complementing the government’s efforts to upgrade their capacity, especially in the subject areas mentioned which posed difficulty to some students.
Benefits of collaboration
The collaboration has brought several developments to GNAT. The establishment of the teachers’ credit union across the country and other initiatives are fallouts from the collaboration between the two associations.
The General-Secretary said the new cycle, when implemented, would prevent instances where district and regional directors had to write letters to teachers warning them against leaving the classrooms to attend sandwich programmes at the expense of the children’s education.
He recounted several occasions when the GES or the Ministry of Education had threatened teachers not to leave the classroom for the sandwich courses.
CTF’s support commended
Mr Acheampong commended the CTF for its support towards improving teaching and learning, as well as the development of education in Ghana.
The Leader of the Canadian Delegation, Mr Owen Fergurson, assured the leadership of GNAT and the nation of CTF’s regular support to help improve education in the country.
He stated that many initiatives would be put in place to strengthen the relationship between GNAT and CTF to benefit people of the two countries, and urged the teachers to work harder to deepen the development of education to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
In an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Divisional Director in charge of Basic Education, Mrs Margaret Okai, the Director-General of the GES, Mr Jacob Kor, lauded the Canadians for their support towards the development of education in the country.
He said there was the need to take the foundation of education seriously, since it would be very easy to continue building upon it for better education in the country and the world.
