When about a year ago, a former Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Charge of Labour Relations of the Association (Mr Awotwe Nkansah) levelled serious allegations of fraud and corruption against some past officers as well as some current officers of the association many people became alarmed.
This is not the first time allegations of corruption and or financial malfeasance has been levelled against any officer of the association; some other officials of the association have in the past been accused of one form of corruption or the other.
The situation raised critical concerns for all members of the association and advocates of workers’ rights in the country.
GNAT’s Contribution to Ghana’s Education
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has, for a very long time been engaged in promoting and improving education in the country. Established in 1962, on the heels of the Assisted Schools Teachers’ Union (ASTU), the first all teachers’ organization financed and controlled by teachers, the GNAT has served as the loudest voice of teachers in Ghana over the years, chalking several successes in the promotion of education as a whole. (In fact, it has been recognized in the 1992 Constitution under Article 166 (1) as one of the fifteen members of the NMC). This places a very high responsibility on the association to justify its recognition as the major voice of teachers in the country.
Professional Development
An important expectation of any employer is to have its employees on top of their jobs, delivering quality services or products with little or no supervision. Organizations thus take the professional development of their employees very seriously, making budgetary provisions for capacity building of their staff. Teachers in Ghana have enjoyed Study Leave (with or without pay) since time immemorial.
The GNAT remains a crucial stakeholder, actively involved in ensuring the continuity of the policy (though, now on quota basis), to enable teachers pursue various courses at the University to enrich their knowledge and pedagogical skills.
Similarly, the GNAT also contributes (single-handedly or in collaboration with other partners like the Canadian Teachers Federation) to the professional development of teachers through seminars and workshops. The GNAT also championed the institution of an annual award scheme known as the “Best Teacher Awards” in 1995 to motivate teachers to give off their best to improving education delivery in the country.
Under the awards, outstanding teachers (and recently, schools) in various categories are identified and honoured.
Socio-Economic Needs
The GNAT also concerns itself with addressing the economic challenges facing teachers while in active service as well as in retirement. As a result of this, it established the Teachers Fund in 1998 to serve as a pension supplement scheme for members. Over the years, Teachers Fund has modified its operations to take care of pressing needs of members while in active service through the advancement of personal loans to teachers to enable them honour financial commitments such the payment of their wards school fees and rent. They also advance loans to members to build houses or purchase means of transport, among others.
GNAT Youth Desk
Another achievement worthy of mention is the establishment, in 2011, of a Youth Desk to cater for the needs of youthful teachers of the association who make up over 70% of the entire membership of over 150,000 teachers.
The GNAT Youth Policy comes on the heels of the National Youth Policy of Ghana whose mandate is “towards an empowered youth, impacting positively on national development.”
Way Forward
The way forward in spite of the several achievements chalked by the association, is for major reforms leading to more accountability in the association to assuage the apprehensions of members and other stakeholders.
Operations of the association need to be streamlined to forestall embarrassment. The communication system of the association must also be improved to enhance interaction between management and the general membership.