GNAT gives GES and MoE deadline to supply teachers TM1 laptops and refund ¢44.55 to teachers

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has cautioned Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Education (MoE) over delay of teachers TM1 laptops and refund of ¢44.55 to teachers.

The National Council of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT, made up of the 5 National Officers, 32 National Executive members, 127 District Chairmen, with 3 Management Staff, and Full-time Staff across the regions in attendance at the 2022 mandatory meeting at the Teachers Village, Abankro from 25th-29th October, 2022, and deliberated on all the issues tabled before it said, the action of GES and MoE over the One Teacher One Laptop initiative is affecting them.

According to the Union, the delay in supplying the laptops as well as refund of the GH¢44.55 to teachers is still creating anxiety on their front, with the potential of rocking the industrial peace they are currently experiencing.

The Association’s Council expresses its indignation with the situation and calls for resolution of the issue, by 9th December, 2022.

GNAT resolved that, failure to supply the TM1 laptops as well as refund of the GH¢44.55 to teachers before December 9, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service should be held responsible for whatever may happens.

BACKGROUND

Three teacher Unions, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Graduates Association of Teachers (NAGRAT) and Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH) in a joint memorandum requested the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Ghana Education Service to provide teachers with laptop.

According to the proposal, government absorbed 70% cost of the laptop while each teacher was deducted 30% of the cost of the laptop.

After several agitations, a total amount of GH¢509.55 was deducted from the Provisional Development Allowance (PDA) for teachers in November 2021 for the laptops

The KA Technologies was contracted to supply the TM1 laptops to teachers across the country.

About twelve (12) months down the lane, some teachers are yet to receive the laptop whose money was deducted by government from source by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.

DISTRIBUTION OF LAPTOPS

Teachers at Senior High Schools and a section of Junior High School teachers have so far received their laptops.

Primary and Kindergarten teachers are yet to receive their laptops after several deadlines being announced by the KA Technologies, GES and Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, some District Education Directorates of GES have directed teachers at the Primary and Kindergarten levels to generate the codes for the collection of the laptops whiles some are yet to know their fate.

KA Technologies, the company behind the production of the TM1 Laptop for teachers explained that, a nationwide mop up would be done to cover up for teachers who haven’t received their laptops.

But, GNAT has resolved that, the Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education should be held accountable for the delay in supplying the laptops to teachers and refund of ¢44.55 to teachers.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh