The Greater Accra Regional Chair of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Sarah Oye Owiredu, has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to address persistent challenges faced by female teachers seeking transfers from rural areas.
Her appeal comes on the back of growing concerns from female educators who struggle to secure transfers to other regions in order to reunite with their families. Some also endure long commutes daily, affecting their work and well-being.
Speaking at the Accra Metro West GNATLAS Roundabout Conference on Wednesday, May 14, Madam Owiredu noted that despite assurances from officials at the district level, some directors within their jurisdiction are reluctant to release the teachers.
She cited the enforcement of the three-year mandatory service requirement as a major obstacle.
“Some have served two years, but because of marriage, they need to be transferred to join their partners, and the director has to help them. Some are also pursuing higher education, and then commuting from the rural areas to the urban centres becomes a problem.
“So we are pleading with the director that ladies with such peculiar issues should be helped to get transfers to the cities,” she said.
She also commended the government’s initiative to provide allowances to teachers in rural areas as a motivation strategy and urged for the speedy implementation of the process.
“We are talking about the allowances for the teachers in the rural areas. The union has taken it up, and we are also happy the current government has taken it up because it is a problem. If you ask the teachers to go to the rural areas to go and teach, they refuse, because of the circumstances there.
“The government should motivate them so that they can stay in those rural areas to be role models to the upcoming girls in the rural areas.”
