New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Richard Anning has criticised the government’s handling of teachers and the education sector, arguing that teachers played a significant role in keeping the education system running during the COVID-19 pandemic but have not received adequate support.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s EBAANOSEN, hosted by Ohene Kinnah, Mr Anning compared the academic and teaching backgrounds of Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
He noted that teachers continued to receive their salaries during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite schools being closed for an extended period, while educators adopted alternative measures to ensure that learning continued.
According to him, the education sector introduced measures including e-learning, social distancing and other health protocols to minimise the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Mr Anning also discussed the Deprived Area Allowance, which he said was introduced under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration to provide additional support for teachers posted to deprived communities.
He said although the allowance was initially relatively low, it was subsequently increased to about GH¢200.
Mr Anning further raised concerns about teacher postings and recruitment, particularly the challenges faced by graduates of teacher training colleges after completing their programmes.
He argued that teachers who successfully complete their training deserve a more structured and predictable system for securing postings and employment.
According to him, addressing such challenges would help improve the conditions of service for teachers and strengthen Ghana’s education sector.
By: Ernest Kumi
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