NAGRAT defies Gov’t, GES directive on SHS 3 re-opening
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has defied a directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) asking form 3 students and their teachers in Senior High School to go back to school on August 19, 2019.
The association has warned it will rise up against any person or group of persons who victimize teachers for deciding to enjoy their holidays.
A statement signed by NAGRAT President, Angel Eric Carbonu said, “We hereby serve notice that the full weight of the union will be brought on anyone who attempts to coerce, harass or intimidate any teacher who exercises his or her right not to participate in the programme.”
The Ghana Education Service on Wednesday August 14, directed all third-year Senior High School (SHS) students to report to school on Monday, August 19, to begin the semester of the 2019-2020 Academic Year.
The move is part of a programme by the government termed ‘intervention’ to allow form three SHS teachers to teach their students for a month out of which the latter would be paid by their employer.
The directive brings forward, the re-opening date initially set for September 16 for the third-year students – the first batch of the free SHS policy.
Mr. Carbonu while reacting to the directive said the association has not changed its stance on the need to allow their teachers across the country to enjoy their holidays.
He stated, “NAGRAT maintains its position that teachers should be allowed to enjoy their holiday uninterrupted.”
According to him, the association has not negotiated any package with the government for the proposed intervention thus, the intervention cannot be forced down the throats of teachers in the country.
“NAGRAT has not negotiated any package for the proposed intervention for incoming form three students and should the government decide to go ahead with the proposed intervention, it should not be compulsory for all teachers to participate in. Teachers should have the right to decide whether to participate in the programme or not,” the statement added.
Some teachers who spoke to The Ghana Report observed that government had not met them or their leadership to negotiate how much will be paid to them during the period, hence the decision to stick to the earlier communicated re-opening date in September.
Some of the teachers also said to The Ghana Report that recalling teachers against their will constitutes a breach of the agreement they have with their employer.