“Go beyond what Government can do for you”, teachers told

Prof Richard Tuyee Awuah, Principal of College of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, Mampong Campus, said on Friday that it was time teachers looked beyond what government could do for them and begin to derive inspiration and motivation from their success stories in the teaching profession.

He said there was the need for them to begin to assert themselves in society and exude confidence as demonstrated in the days of old because a low self-esteem would never be in their interest.

Prof Awuah was speaking on the topic “New Direction to Quality Education; Motivation for Teachers as a Catalyst”, at the Mampong Municipal and Sekyere Central District Ghana National Association of Teachers' (GNAT) Third Quadrennial Delegates Conference at Asante Mampong on Friday.

The one-day Conference which is held in every four years was attended by 69 delegates and it enabled members to deliberate on activities for the year under review, present resolutions, financial statement and elect new officers for the next four years.

Prof Awuah advised the teachers to avoid the feeling of inferiority complex that defines the status of the teaching profession as belonging to the “never to do well” in society.

“You should always try to look on the brighter side of life and keep in mind that prosperity and happiness is generated through hard work and perseverance”, he said.

He appealed to them to desist from untoward behaviours such as sexual immorality, drunkenness, child abuse, lateness, absenteeism, corruption and other unprofessional attitudes that do not only go to tarnish their image but also the image of the profession.

Professor Awuah said provision of quality education would continue to face overwhelming challenges as it becomes more and more difficult for the government to provide the resources and incentives needed to support quality education.

He, however, said that quality education was dependent on well-trained and motivated teacher among other factors, adding that political will of the highest level should be mustered to address some critical issues of immediate concern to teachers' welfare.

Mr. Akosah Brempong, the Municipal/District GNAT Chairman and a tutor at the Mampong Technical Teachers' College, Mampong, stressed the need for members to work in harmony devoid of antagonism, selfishness and other negative tendencies that would hamper the work and welfare of members and the profession in general.

Mr. Frank Yaw Musah, Mampong Municipal Director of Education who chaired the conference called on teachers to be abreast with issues and developments in the society as agents of change.