It is not about Dr Eric Nkansah, it is about the principle- Teacher Union

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Thomas Musah has said the teacher unions that are on strike are not targeting the new Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Dr Eric Nkansah.

He said their protest against the appointment is to protect a long standing principle that a person with teaching background should occupy that post.

“It is not about Dr Eric Nkansah, it is about the principle,” he said on the New Day show with Roland Walker on TV3 Monday November 7.

The Minister of Education Dr Yaw Osei Aduwtum will be meeting leadership of the teacher unions today Monday November 7 at 2PM.

Thomas Musah said that the unions will determine the way forward depending on what transpires at the meeting.

“Teachers are unhappy. some progress have been made last Friday, let us not destroy what has been. We will be at the meeting at 2PM.”

Meanwhile the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng has appealed to the teacher unions who are striking to return to the classrooms in the interest of the students.

Also speaking on the New Day show with Roland Walker on TV3 Monday November 7, Mr Kwarteng said “In the interest of the students they should go back to the classroom.”

GNAT, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) have declared strike over the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah as the new Director General of the Ghana Education (GES).

They declared the industrial action on Friday November 4.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo  appointed Dr Nkansah as the new Director-General of the GES to replace Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah. The appointment took effect on Wednesday October 19, 2022.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment. Kindly indicate your acceptance or otherwise of this appointment within 14 days of receipt of this letter, ” a statement signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante said.

But NAGRAT, GNAT and CCT rejected the appointment.

The associations said the new appointee is a banker who has no background in teaching. Therefore, they are unhappy with his appointment.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday October 20, President of NAGRAT, Mr Angel Carbonou said teachers were hoping that a person who has background in education would be appointed in order to bring his or her expertise to bear.

This appointment is an indication that there are no qualified teaching professionals to man education in Ghana, he said.

Mr Carbonou indicated that they are annoyed and surprised by the appointment of Dr Nkansah.

He said “What annoyed and surprised all of us was that a new Director General has been appointed to the Ghana Education Service.

“The authority to appoint Director General of GES is the President of the land. Unfortunately, contrary to what the teacher unions indicated that, we will want a Director General who is a professional teacher, who has passed through the mill, who can bring his knowkdge, skills and influence to bear on the activities of teachers and non-teachers in the GES.

“Contrary to that, the gentlemen who was appointed yesterday is not a teacher, he is banking officer, who was a special assistant in the office of the Minister and has been appointed as the DG of the GES. We are not happy with this development, it is as of we don’t have professionals and well educated people who have gone through the mill in education in this country to run education.”

Source: 3news.com|Ghana