The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says teachers in the country are better off under the Akufo-Addo administration than they were under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime.
The Director of Communications for the party, Yaw Buabeng Asamoa at a news conference in Accra, said policies and programmes introduced by the NPP have prioritised teachers at all levels.
Mr. Asamoa indicated that the conditions of service of teachers had seen significant improvement given the number of allowances being provided to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
“The conditions of service which are going to be enjoyed by these teacher unions cover vehicle maintenance allowance, kilometric night allowance, allowances of teachers in deprived and difficult areas retention allowance, protective clothing allowance, advance to purchase means of transport.”
Touching on the introduction of the double-track system by the government, Yaw Buaben Asamoa said the policy has proven to be effective adding that any attempt by the opposition party to abolish the system is borne out of desperation to win power and destroy the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
“Any promise by National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership to abolish double track in seven months is unrealistic and desperate. It is obvious that the NDC does not understand the double-track system, and have no real commitment to Free SHS. Some students dropped out of SHS due to financial reasons. Free SHS has therefore come as a major boost to parents, students and the nation” he said.
NDC will pay teachers more – Prof. Opoku-Agyemang
Already, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Presidential Candidate for the NDC has assured teachers of enhanced remuneration when the party returns to power after the December election.
She has also assured teachers and nursing trainees of innovative financial interventions, including increased training allowances and educational loan facilities to facilitate their successful training.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, a former Minister of Education, gave the assurance indicated that the party’s manifesto has a comprehensive action plan to proactively address the needs of trainee teachers and nurses.
“Our manifesto is of a different nature this time,” she said, adding that there are innovative policies that would enable the NDC government to build on its enviable achievements and do more for the teaching and nursing professions.