Exploring The Educational Circles; The Teacher Related Factor

It was once upon a time remarked by the most renowned president of South Africa Nelson Mandela that,"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".Indeed, the foundation of every successful country is its education....

Needless to state that,there can be no successful logically constructed tenable argument against the fact that education is a best safeguard of society, human liberty and the underpinning bedrock of the development of every nation -re echoed!

The world,as the tradition goes celebrated World Teachers Day on the 5th of October, 2015, under the theme,"Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies".Here-in mother Ghana, we celebrated our noble teachers under the theme, 'invest in the future, invest in teachers'.Yes, why not? We must invest in teachers in order to secure the unknown future.An investment in teachers will obvoiusly yield the greatest divident for the nation, since,they are at the core of society and education.Not to overemphasize, this noble men touch the future positively and are capable of turning mirrors to windows; darkness to light.God, forgive me if I have just blasphemed for its not intended.

After reading the theme for this year's celebration 'over and over again',I asked myself a very simple but fascinating question,are we really investing in teachers?As a country that is dedicating over 20% of its expenditure on education, are we really serious about investing in the future through the teacher? And the answer keep resounding,No! No! No!

The question of whether or not the day should really be called 'teachers day' is a debate I will reserve for another day.Because,even though,some of us by privy of being in the media landscape were quite aware of such a day, I can tell you,a lot of teachers were simply not aware of such a day, since,they were busy in the classrooms.In the Ghanaian calendar,we have a number of national and international events such as farmers day,founder's day, Africa Union day, Republic day been declared public holidays.So, why can't we declare 'Teachers Day' a public holiday to increase awareness and bring to burden the importance of resting and celebrating the teacher.I hope I'm not been lazy here.But as I said, I reserve this debate for another day.

As a professional young teacher myself and serving in this noble 'God-given' profession for over two years now,and haven't humbly agreed in the interest of my country to serve in two most deprived communities in my district,I can tell you without equivocating that the challenges are simply exponentially mounting!I sometimes even wonder whether the teacher really matter:Low status, poor teacher motivation, no promise of further advancement.I can go on and on....

Let me be quick to state that, as a devoted Christian,I will be the first to endorse the fact that the reward of the teacher is in heaven.But be that as it stands, does this necessary dispute the fact that, the teacher has children and must honour his fatherly and motherly responsibility of funding for their education as per moral and legal law? No!Does that also take away the stance that the teacher need to put body and soul together-by acquiring the basic necessities of life? No!

I tell you, I have paid my dues by rendering varied services in my capacity as a professionally trained teacher for over two years now without receiving salary arrears legally due me, and I doubt whether I will ever receive it if not for political expediency.So tell me, where is the investment?In fact, It is only in Ghana that it has to take series of labour unrest (strikes) to get the legal demands of teachers met.Sometimes, this government preventable strikes can last for over a month, probably, because teachers don't render the 'so called essential service', and more so, the affected ones are always the powerless vulnerable majority.After pretentiously playing the public gimmickry to please you and I,this powerful politicians and the proletarians will always have the assurance that their own 'golden children' are studying in the best school abroad and so, to hell with strikes.It is only in Ghana that the necessary teaching learning materials are lacking or in short supply, yet teachers are expected to produce the best results by performing magic and wonders.I agree and in fact, I will have no point running away from the fact that, we as teachers can use our igenuity to innovate some of these materials.But the fact still remains that most of them like the text books, chalks, teachers guide, syllabus inter alia need to just be supplied from above.In the midst of this gloom,tell me why I shouldn't agree with the following assertion by Charles Kurait,"When we become a really mature, grown-up, wise society, we will put teachers at the center of the community, where they belong, we don't honour them enough, we don't pay them enough".

As a country and as we continue to celebrate teachers on the global scene, lets pause for a moment and take a sober reflection of were we are falling apart and were we are making positive strides in empowering the teacher to deliver a better future.Increasingly true, the foundations of education are being destroyed and we are duty called as a chosen generation to rise and build as Williams Akuffo Addo will choose to put it;as well as challenge the status quo in the name of posterity.

Yes,the teacher related factor need to be seriously looked at again.You may succeed in doing away with teacher absenteeism and the rest.But an emotionally dumpen and lowly motivated teacher will still deliver nothing on the job.He will only pretend to be working just to justify the salary.As Donald Norman rightly put it,"We expert teachers know that motivational and emotional impact are what matter".

Let us together as a country rise up and inspire the teacher to produce results.Government must rise above the usual sugar coated 'talk talk' and promises and be proactively committed as well as dedicated in meeting the justified demands of the teacher.Teachers may not expect to be given silver and gold.But motivation, conditions of service and a slightly dignified life are not out of place to be demanded by the noble teacher.

In fact, not withstanding the circumstances, we will continue to diligently serve for the seek of God and country.

May God bless our homeland Ghana, may God bless the teacher of yesterday and today.

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM ( AB)
( Teacher, and Radio Presenter)
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