The Ahafo Ano North Chapter of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has condemned the termination of the appointments of over 250 pupil teachers in the district.
The District GNAT Secretary, Mr. Ishaq Saani, explained at a press briefing that most of these affected pupil teachers are already pursuing various programmes at the universities at various levels to upgrade themselves, and see the treatment being meted out to them as unfair, especially, when some are about to retire.
The GNAT scribe said for people who sacrificed to serve the nation, at a time when trained teachers were reluctant to serve in the deprived areas, to be rewarded this way is unfortunate.
It is sadder to note that some of the affected teachers have taught for over two years without pay.
According to Mr. Saani, in some districts within Ashanti Region, these pupil teachers have been moved to the kindergartens (KGs) as attendants, and wondered why those from the Ahafo Ano North District could not be treated in the same way.
He noted with regret that those on distance programmes had been sacked, while pupil teachers on UTTDBE programmes, irrespective of the level they are now, are spared termination.
Mr. Saani was baffled at the discrimination, because both the distance programme and UTTDBE programme are being run by the same university.
He was surprised that the Ghana Education Service (GES) could go ahead with the termination of these pupil teachers, when letters appointing pupil teachers indicate that the appointment is for a year, subject to a yearly renewal.
The GNAT scribe said it was an act of bad faith for the Ghana Education Service to now cite failure on their part to re-apply, after the expiration of the supposed one year, as a reason for the termination of the appointment, when nobody has ever asked pupil teachers to re-apply at the end of the year.
Secretary Saani also wondered how the GES endorsed loans secured by some of these teachers from the banks and from the Teachers Fund for a repayment period of over one year, and turn around to say that their appointments were for one year.
He said the case of Ahafo Ano North District was more disturbing, because even KG attendants have all been sacked, unlike the other three neighbouring districts, and pointed to mere injustice, since the policy is not nationwide.
