Cost of teachers laptop miraculously increased from GH¢1,550 to GH¢1,831.47 overnight

The Cost of government’s “One Teacher One Laptop Project” procured for Ghanaian teachers has miraculously increased overnight causing everyone talking.

In the course of engagement with KA Technology Company leading to the procurement of the Mate 1 TM1 laptop, teachers were made to understand that, the cost of each laptop is GH¢1,550.00.

Though, the teachers were not happy of the laptop brand, specifications and cost as compared to other brands such as Lenovo, HP, Dell and Toshiba, they have nothing to do since it appears their Teacher Unions have reached a collective agreement on the payment ratio 70% : 30% for government and the teacher respectively.

Teacher Unions announce cost, payment and distribution of “One Teacher One Laptop Project”

While the teachers were waiting patiently for the mass distribution of the laptop after it launch, they were hit by a shocking news from the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) regarding the cost of the Laptop.

In a statement, the National President of National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) Mr. Eric Agbe-Carbonu has announced a new cost of the laptop and detailed payment breakdown which is different from what every teacher is aware of.

According to the statement, the coat of the laptop is now GH¢1,831.47 not previous GH¢1,550 communicated to teachers in the past.

CONFIRMED: Specifications for the TM1 Teachers’ Laptops announced

It is unclear to teachers, why the cost of the laptops miraculously changed few days after the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia launched the Government’s “One Teacher One Laptop Initiative”

But, Eric Agbe-Carbonu reiterated that, the total cost of the laptop is GH¢1,831.47 representing 100%. According to him, the three Teacher Unions NAGRAT, GNAT and CCT-GH have met the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education (MoE) and have since agreed that Government pays GH¢1,282.03 representing 70% while the Teacher pays GH¢ 549.44  representing 30%.

NAGRAT also hinted that, the Teacher’s 30% component will not be deducted from the Teacher’s salary as speculated earlier but, it will be paid through the Professional Allowances allocations for teachers.

“One Teacher One Laptop”: Gov’t hands over 350,000 laptops to GES, MoE for distribution

The Ghanaian teachers are worried at the point they are waiting patiently for the distribution of 350,000 laptops handed over to GES and MoE under the ‘One Teacher One Laptop’ to commence.

Find attached, the full statement from NAGRAT.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh