GNAT reacts to Deputy Education Minister who said, teachers must be blamed for Ghana’s economic challenges
The Ghana National Association of Teachers, (GNAT) has debunked the statement purportedly to be made by Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, and widely reported on electronic and social media.
In an official letter signed by Thomas T. Musah, GNAT General Secretary dated 3rd July 2023 the Association said Hon. Twum-Ampofo is said to have made this categorical statement “BLAME TEACHERS FOR GHANA’S ECONOMIC WOES, NOT FINANCE MINISTER” on July 1, the Republic Day, 2023 when speaking at the 175th Anniversary of the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong Akwapim on the theme: 175 years of Education: Honouring our past, Celebrating the present and Shaping the future.
Addressing to debunk her statement, The Ghana National Association of Teachers reacts to Hon. Twum-Ampofo via the following words:
1. We deem this statement as not only unfortunate, but vicious, irresponsible, and uncalled for, coming from a partner and practitioner of education who is expected to know better, and help find solutions to the myriad of problems and challenges facing teachers and the education enterprise as a whole.
2. We find such diatribes and outbursts from people who have climbed higher and found the temperature cooler and clement not remaining there but finding cause to hold people for their failures and shortcomings as demonstrated by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Education in an assemblage of eminent educationists not only caustic but wonder whether she understood and recognized who were to be honoured – past and present educationists.
3. Let us make it clear to Hon. Twum-Ampofo and her ilk, that the Ghana National Association of Teachers would not sit unconcerned for its teachers to be taken to the cleaners by people in positions of responsibility; our teachers cannot be made scapegoats or guinea pigs by governments for policies they hardly reflect on before implementing, and the earlier vituperations such as made by Hon. Twum-Ampofo, stopped the better it would be for all of us.
4. Once again, we wish to reiterate, that no educationist nor teacher sits in cabinet where Ghana’s economy is discussed; the Finance Ministry is not headed by a Teacher and we are not aware that an educationist or a teacher for that matter, has ever been invited to make a presentation or deliver a paper on the Country’s economic prospects or woes.
5. Following from all these, we wish toreemphasizes that we are fed up with these scape-goating and blame games on our teachers. Madam Twum- Ampofo must not make us believe that it is only a bad workman who quarrels with her/his tools, and in some instances, her/his outcomes.
Enough is enough, Madam Twum-Ampofo and we hope, you would have the required ears to hear us. Meanwhile, we remain your very reliable stakeholder and partner, in the education enterprise.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
