The Bongo District Directorate of Education in the Upper East Region, has taken disciplinary action against recalcitrant teachers, to improve education in the area.
Those who resorted to absenteeism, lateness and drunkenness during school hours were made to face sanctions including suspended salaries and demotions.
Mr. Francis Agyeere, District Director of Education, announced these at a public dissemination forum organised by the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights, SEND Foundation of Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and civil society organisations, at Bongo.
The event was aimed at evaluating government's involvement in the education and health components of the Millennium Development Goals.
Mr. Agyeere said the directorate had formed a disciplinary committee to punish teachers who would flout the ethics of the profession.
He said so far, about 24 teachers had been affected by the punitive measures that were yielding positive results.
Mr. Agyeere said circuit supervisors in the district had been provided with motorbikes to facilitate their work.
He said attendance books had also been made available for teachers to indicate the time of arrival and closing from classes, to enable head teachers and circuit supervisors to submit monthly reports to the directorate.
Mr. Agyeere urged government to provide accommodation for teachers, especially those in the remote areas, who travelled long distances to school.
He advised the people to regard schools in their communities as theirs, take part in running them and report problems to the directorate.
Mr. Agyeere appealed to traditional authorities and other opinion leaders to also take part in the management of schools to ensure that better academic results were achieved.
Participants at the forum, who included teachers, health workers and chiefs urged government to provide schools in the district with Information Communication and Technology facilities and books to enhance teaching and learning.