The National Council of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD) to remit the tier-two contributions of its members to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Occupational Pension Scheme for the months of July, August, September and October.

It said the non-remittance was contrary to the provision of section 96(2) and 64 of the Pensions Act, 2008 Act 766.

In a communiqué issued last Friday and signed by its National President, Ms Philippa Larsen, at the end of its meeting held at Abankro, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, it said the tier-two contributions of its members had been in arrears for four months and thus called on the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to press on the Ministry of Finance, “to ensure prompt payment of member-monthly contributions and the associated three per cent penalty for July, August, September 2021 without further delay.”

The communique also asked the National Teaching Council (NTC) to stop compelling teachers to take part in its Continuous Professional Development Programmes (CPDP).

It said the continuous professional development of teachers was the responsibility of the employer, which is the Ghana Education Service (GES) and not the council and the NTC should, therefore, stay within its mandate as an advisory body to the Minister of Education on matters relating to the professional standing and licensing of teachers.

Consequently, the council endorsed the call by the leadership of GNAT on the NTC and district directors of education to, “cease compelling teachers to attend the fee-paying CPDP, being run by its assigns forthwith.”

Accommodation

In the 12-point communiqué, the National Council of GNAT also called on the ruling government to provide a decent accommodation for teachers as promised in its 2016 manifesto as well as the 2017 budget of the government.

“ We can longer wait for the realisation and fulfilment of this promise, which has been outstanding for five solid years down the line.

“ We are, therefore, looking forward eagerly to it, soonest, in the collective interest of both the unions and government,” said Ms Larsen.

Still on the welfare of its members, the National Council further called on the National Labour Commission to prevail on the employer and “all who matter to address the issues bordering on the Collective Agreement and the Conditions of Service of teachers, which in effect, affect their performance and well-being.”

Indiscipline

Ms Larsen also expressed the National Council’s abhorrence to the unruly behaviour being demonstrated by students in some schools towards school authorities, teachers and themselves and sometimes resulting in needless injuries and death.

The council, therefore, called on students to demonstrate some modicum of respect, moral uprightness, tolerance and decorum towards school authorities, their teachers and themselves.

“They should learn to coexist peacefully with one another and save their teachers, parents and the country in general from unnecessary consternation, fear, panic, anxiety and insecurity.

They should assure society and all that they are our hope for the future,” she said, and consequently called for a policy to be put in place to “curb this unruly behaviour of students.”