A lecturer and psychologist, Samuel Ziggah, has called on the government to incentivize teachers to foster the development and transformation of students across all educational levels.
He expressed dismay over the government’s apparent lack of commitment to motivating teachers to perform at their best.
Citing the ongoing strike action by various teacher unions as a prime example, he lamented the government’s seeming indifference towards teachers’ welfare.
He noted the government’s failure to provide necessary resources for teaching, while simultaneously expecting teachers to nurture well-rounded students.
Mr Ziggah cautioned that without proper attention, the education system would produce individuals devoid of vitality.
“There was a need to build the capacity of the teachers so they would have the skills needed to teach the students. If you don’t build the capacity of the teachers so they will later help the students, the policy will be a waste; the tablets will be destroyed, and we will have to pump in more money to buy new ones.
Regarding the one-student, one-tablet policy, he acknowledged the merit of investing in smart learning.
However, he questioned the rationale behind providing tablets to students when teachers themselves lack essential tools like laptops or tablets to facilitate effective teaching.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing teachers’ capabilities to ensure the success of educational policies.
Without such support, he warned, policies would falter, resources would go to waste, and students would graduate without essential skills or knowledge.
Ziggah delivered these remarks during an appearance on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, hosted by Kwabena Agyapong.
He highlighted the disparity in public reaction between strikes by medical doctors and those by teachers. While medical strikes elicit urgent calls for government intervention to safeguard healthcare, teacher strikes often go unnoticed or ignored by authorities.