Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, has stated that government recognised the need for teachers to upgrade themselves through further studies but the concern has been the abuse of such system.
He observed that good educational curriculum without quality teachers was meaningless to achieving better standards of education and therefore government was bent on improving the conditions of service for teachers including the study leave facility.
The Regional Minister said this when the leadership of the Eastern Regional Association of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) called on him at his office in Koforidua to announce the beginning of a community service programme and other issues.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo observed that the teaching profession had of late become a "stepping stone" and most teachers abused the study leave facility
granted at the expense of the state where they veered into other professions after completing their studies.
He said that phenomenon had led to the shortage of teachers throughout the country and to address that situation the Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken measures that were not favourable to teachers.
He assured them that government would as part of the improvement of the service conditions of teachers take a critical look at the study leave facility to ensure that teachers had the fullest benefit.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo commended the Association for the institution of the community service where vacation and extra classes would be organized in deprived communities in the region and pledged to liaise with the district assemblies to support them.
The President of the Association, Mr Moses Ohene Amponsah, said the community service programme was instituted as part of their contribution towards the improvement of education in the region, especially in deprived areas where educational standards were very low.
He, however, raised issues with the study leave facility where many teachers, who applied, were refused and in some cases those that commenced with their education had their application terminated.
Mr Amponsah expressed the Association's gratitude to the Minister for accepting to be their patron and the many help it had extended to the growth of the Association.
He later presented a nine-point communiqu� of the Association to the Minister bordering on education improvement in the region for consideration and a citation in his honour.