KEEP TO DECISION ON SSS IMPLEMENTATION (PAGE 14, FEB 20, 2010)

THE EASTERN regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has asked the government to keep to its decision to implement the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) next July.
Although the regional branch did not indicate the action it would take should the government renege on its decision, it explained that its members in the region would adopt certain unpleasant measures that would disturb the prevailing industrial peace.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr Nathaniel Larweh Apronti, made these known when he addressed members of the association in the Kwaebibirem District at Kade last Tuesday.
Mr Apronti, together with other regional executives of GNAT, was on the first leg of a regional tour to explain the implementation of the SSSS and other related issues to the teachers.
According to Mr Apronti, the implementation of the SSSS in January this year could not be done due to numerous distortions in it as well as wrongful placement of the association’s members.
He said the government, therefore, decided to delay its implementation to July so that it could correct all anomalies associated with it, adding that any further delay in its implementation would compel members of the association in the region to advise themselves.
Mr Apronti stated that the members of the association had been cheated for a long period by being paid low salaries and allowances, as compared to others with the same qualifications and experiences, and that the time had come for the government to remedy the situation.
“Although teaching is a noble profession that has produced all the prominent personalities and professionals in the country, our salaries and allowances continue to be scanty when compared with others, and this is the time to correct the wrongs.
“If we go to the banks to collect our salaries after July 31 and the SSSS has not been implemented then we will bite in such a way that government would have no other option than to immediately implement the SSSS”, Mr Apronti stated.
Mr Apronti, who called on members of the association to continue to be patient till the end of July was hopeful that the proposed professional monthly allowance of 15 per cent for all professional teachers, 20 per cent allowance for those in the deprived areas and another 10 per cent for others teaching mathematics, science, ICT and technical/vocational subjects would also be implemented.
These allowances, he stated, would further improve the lot of teachers and boost their morale to offer their best to raise the standard of education in the country.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Secretary of GNAT, Miss Gifty Apanbil, advised teachers to channel their grievances through the association but not politicians, adding that seeking help from politicians only aggravated the problem.
For his part, the Kwaebibirem District Chairman of GNAT, Mr John Appoh Selby, said due to low salaries, allowances and general working condition in the teaching profession, many people only entered that field as a last resort, after which they left for other professions, especially nursing, and called on the authorities to help reverse the trend.
Welcoming the teachers, the Kwaebibirem District Secretary of GNAT, Mr George Aboagye, appealed to members of the association not to do anything that would impact negatively on the association.
This, according to him, would bring back the respect accorded teachers in the past.