On October 5th 2011, teachers around the world will observe another Teachers’ Day. This day, established by UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization), and held annually since 1994, celebrates teaching and promotes international standards for the profession.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Teachers for gender equality.” UNESCO contends that despite the teaching profession is made up largely of women, inequality remains a big challenge. The clarion call therefore, is for “both men and women to unite and urge their governments to implement their commitments.”
Fortunately, in Ghana the issue of gender inequality is not as profound as it exists elsewhere (or so I think). So as we wait for the occasion this year, let me rather offer thoughts to stimulate discussion and to draw attention to issues that bother both women and men generally.
The deplorable nature of most school environments in Ghana leaves much to be desired! UNESCO recommends that “school buildings should be safe and attractive in overall design and functional in layout; they should lend themselves to effective teaching, and to use for extra-curricular activities and, especially in rural areas, as a community center; they should be constructed in accordance with established sanitary standards and with a view to durability, adaptability and easy, economic maintenance!”
Ironically, the number of dilapidated school structures is overwhelming! Some of these sub-standard facilities have collapsed, killed and or maimed teachers and students in recent times. The least said about the sanitary conditions in Ghanaian schools the better. Consequently, when teachers and students are pressed to move their bowels all they have is bush. That is unacceptable!
So much has been said lately about efforts being made by government to eradicate “schools under trees”. That is good news but while that is being done, attention should be paid to sanitation.
Another major cause of worry for teachers is postings and or transfers. They are mostly sent to communities that lack sources of good drinking water, communication and basic health care facilities and are not connected to the national grid. This leaves most teachers who accept postings to these communities with no options than to reside in other relatively improved communities and commute to school at extra cost.
The next issue is with visual aids. The major teaching aids in Ghana’s schools are chalk and blackboard. The blackboard, mostly a layer of plaster or plywood on the fore wall of the classroom or structure; or pegboard (plywood mounted over pegs or stands) is blackened with powdered carbon and manganese oxide from Dry Leclanché cells.
Besides the discomfort it brings along soiling their hands, bodies and clothes, teachers and students live in constant fear of the health implications of inhaling the chalk dust daily. They are told strangely, there are no associated health risks! “Inhaling chalk dust mixed with powdered carbon and manganese oxide does not have any health risks!” Interesting huh?
No! Blackboards and chalk have outlived their usefulness! They must be replaced with whiteboards and markers.
While the speech writers are busy with their scripts (if not rhetoric) they must bear in mind that teachers need practical solutions to their challenges not abstract commitments! They need to hear that the single spine salary structure’s spinabifida has been fixed; that their salaries can now compare favourably with that which is paid to professionals in other sectors!
Happy Teachers’ Day!
PS:
This was published in the September 5, 2011 edition of the Daily Graphic