Social media over the past week has been awash with reports of some negative comments attributed to Prof Stephen Adei and directed at basic school teachers. Prof Adei is reported in a Class fm interview to have launched a scathing attack on Ghanaian basic school teachers calling them unprintable names. I find the good old Professor’s comments quite unfortunate and condemnable.
Even though the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of speech and expression to all citizens in Article 21 (1a) thus: “all persons shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media”, it is important to remind all citizens that the enjoyment of such rights and freedoms come with responsibilities.
Indeed, the venerable Professor could have communicated his views in a more mature manner without choosing condescension.
Teaching and learning conditions at the universities are entirely different from those at the pre-tertiary level. Whereas it is common to find university teachers lecturing in air-conditioned lecture halls, and receiving respectable remuneration, teaching and learning conditions at the pre-tertiary level are rather deplorable, with poor school infrastructure and the nonavailability of relevant teaching and learning materials. It takes a great deal of sacrifice for most basic school teachers to go about their duties on daily basis amidst these challenges to achieve results.
It is therefore very unfortunate for anyone to think subjecting teachers to invectives will motivate them to deliver to expectation.
Whilst staying with the general rule to interpret statements within the context in which they were made, it is also fair to say Prof Adei could have chosen more acceptable words to communicate his thoughts. Calling all Ghanaian basic school teachers criminals is definitely unacceptable.
Prof Adei may be justified in raising a moral argument about Public basic school teachers having their wards in private schools, but it is absolutely erroneous to suggest that enrolling one’s ward in one school, whilst working in another is an act of criminality.
Considering the general condemnation and backlash the issue has received, Prof Adei may wish to do the honourable thing of apologising to Ghanaian basic school teachers to put the matter to rest.