The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has expressed grave concerns over what they describe as the continuous maltreatment of professional teachers in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The association claims that the establishment of TVET by the Ghana Education Service (GES) has introduced significant challenges for teachers, particularly those who were previously employed in technical schools that have now been converted into TVET facilities.
In a statement issued by Angel Carbonu, the President of NAGRAT, the association criticized the Ministry of Education for failing to provide a smooth transition period for affected teachers, arguing that educators were not given a choice to either remain under the GES or transfer to TVET. This, according to NAGRAT, has created confusion and a sense of neglect among teachers.
“One surprising thing is that the management of TVET has come out with a Scheme of Service for teachers in TVET without discussions with the representatives of the teachers. One wonders what the hidden motive of the management of TVET is, in developing a scheme without the representatives of the unions the teachers belong to,” the statement read.
NAGRAT reminded TVET authorities that the institutions they are managing today were not created from scratch but were formerly technical schools, with teachers who have long been members of unions. The association believes that these teachers should have been considered in decision-making processes, especially when their future employment status is at stake.
The union further condemned the unilateral decision to transfer teachers from the GES to TVET without obtaining their consent. They also raised alarms about the removal of teachers from their respective unions, particularly in cases where teachers on study leave have been removed from the payroll due to a lack of accountability by both the GES and TVET services.
“If the management of TVET does not want to regard its teachers as professional educationists, it is up to them. Some teachers who were on study leave from the GES have had their names taken off the payroll since both GES and the TVET Service could not account for them,” NAGRAT said.
NAGRAT has issued a stern ultimatum to the Ministry of Education, giving them until September 30, 2024, to address the mounting concerns of teachers in TVET institutions. The union insists that teachers should be given the option to choose between remaining with GES or transitioning to TVET, and they also demanded negotiations on service conditions in line with labour laws.
“If these processes are not set in motion by the 30th of September 2024, the union has no other option than to embark on an industrial action in solidarity with our members working with TVET,” NAGRAT warned, signaling the possibility of strikes if their grievances are not addressed.
The union’s concerns have highlighted the ongoing tension between teachers and the TVET management, raising questions about how educational reforms are being implemented and the welfare of the professionals who deliver them.
