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29.05.2009 Feature Article

Pupil Teachers: We Need Them Everywhere

Pupil Teachers: We Need Them EverywherePupil Teachers: We Need Them Everywhere
29.05.2009 LISTEN

On 18th May I happened to come across this news article entitled: GES to recruit pupil teachers to teach in Afram Plains on myjoyonline.com. According to this article, the hint came from Eastern Regional Minister, Hon Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo. This is a very laudable idea and I will wish that it is extended to cover the entire country.. And I say this without reservation.

Looking around, the emergence and splendid performance of our mushroomed private schools leave no doubt in my mind and heart that pupil teachers are really delivering. In cities, towns and villages our public schools are packed with trained teachers, who comparatively earn higher salaries than the untrained teachers [pupil teachers] yet we see the great fruits pupil teachers yield.

& nbsp; Please get me right, am not despising the trained teachers, of course some are also teaching in the private schools but they are few because the cost of maintaining a trained teacher if not a pensioner is very high.. Most of our private schools [preparatory schools] are headed by trained teachers but taught by pupil teachers. It is clear, evident and unquestionable that the results of the private schools are more pleasant than that of public school.

My viewpoint, enrolling pupil teachers in public schools has less financial consequences, simply because the state has not spent money of them at any training college and surely their salaries will be low. This I think is a positive point but then the government shouldn't exploit it [I mean in the negative sense]. They should give them descent pay to motivate them teach and upgrade themselves.

My observation, there are a lot of people out there unemployed, young ones who will like to teach and impart knowledge, these I guess should be recruited into the teaching service and be pushed to upgrade. Get me right, I mean does who are qualified.

In my view, t he basic reason for the splendid performance of these pupil teachers is supervision. Its not knowledge, is not know-how neither is it issues of facilities. Trained Teachers are trained teachers, they are professionals but then the pupil teacher knows he could be fired now if he does not teach. The proprietor is also moving up and down ensuring that they teach thus they produce splendid results. I remember those good old days whenever education officers visits my school, all the lotto newspapers disappear and the lazy-chairs under the Abrofo Nkatie tree is orphaned. Supervision is the key. But then it also involves pocket supervision, hope you have gotten the point.

Now going back to a point I raised earlier on, that the introduction of pupil teachers should be extended to the entire country. It is not a news fitting article to hear in this country that schools in certain parts of Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, B.A,, Northern, UW and UP don't have teachers. It is as common as party billboards. Thus while this beautiful idea has just emerged in the Eastern Region, let it rise across the horizon to settle in the West, simply put lets transport it to the other parts of the country. All pupils need teachers, whether trained or pupil.

Yirpaale Sondah
[email protected]

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