The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has promised to introduce a 20% stipend for teachers in rural regions if he wins the next elections.
Speaking at a town hall gathering in the Western Region, Mr. Mahama emphasized how important it is to have this allowance in order to draw teachers to underserved rural towns that are struggling with a teacher shortage.
“I am fully committed to overcoming the challenges hindering the successful implementation of this allowance,” Mr Mahama assured the crowd, acknowledging the complexities involved in categorising areas as rural or urban.
“In Takoradi here, there are some villages within the city. Where will you categorise that? All of these would have to be considered. We will sit with you to address this,” he indicated.
The former President admitted that precisely identifying which rural villages should receive the allowance represents a major challenge, but he was determined to find a complete answer.
In addition, Mr. Mahama addressed the concerns voiced by operators of private schools who were unhappy with what they saw as unfair advantages provided to public school exams.
“We will investigate and propose suitable solutions to address the challenges faced by rural areas,” Mr Mahama assured, indicating a commitment to creating a level playing field for both public and private educational institutions.
Mr. Mahama went on to clarify that a comprehensive evaluation of the free Senior High School program is a top priority for the incoming NDC government.
He emphasized that stakeholders like parents, teachers, education experts, and students would be involved in this study.
“We will have a stakeholder consultation to examine the challenges with the policy and address them. For instance, due to an infrastructure deficit, the school operates on a shift system. Currently, some students are at home and will return to school in March. After such a long break, how do they retain what they were taught?” Mr Mahama quizzed, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to address the evolving challenges in the education sector.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
