The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has tasked the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to embrace digital tools in a bid to meet the evolving demands of the educational sector.

According to him, this will bode well for members to remain relevant to society.

Mr Osei-Mensah made this revelation at the 53rd regional delegates’ conference of GNAT at Ejisu.

The 3-day event which is part of activities to mark the 90th anniversary celebration of GNAT is under the theme “GNAT at 90: Advancing as a Relevant, Vibrant and Surviving Teacher Union in the 21st Century”.

“Our encounter with covid-19 pandemic has laid bare the fact that technology in education and modern learning has become a necessity in the 21st century.

“If the education sector or specifically the teacher unions will be more relevant and vibrant, technology must be applied in all spheres”.

On his part, the Ashanti regional deputy police commander, DCOP David Adjem Agyemang, encouraged teachers to make efforts to train law-abiding students. This, he reckons, will ensure how crucial consistent capacity building is.

“As teachers, it’s your responsibility to inculcate in the children you teach, the etiquettes of good citizenry, which includes amongst others to be good citizens, to respect the law of the country and to be upright and moral in all the things they do.

“If you do not educate yourself you may not be able to teach the children what they’re supposed to do to be good citizens”.

GNAT terms of service

Furthermore, the Regional GNAT Chairman, Rev Canon Francis Senkyere, urged GNAT national executives to rectify issues of unresolved GES/SIC Group Life Insurance deduction of members. Other problems he tasked them to find solutions to are promotion arrears, salary and upgrading payment issues among others.

Additionally, he cautioned them on the repercussions of industrial action if the difference in salaries between government appointees and public sector workers is not addressed.

“Kindly use your good office to help members to bridge the gap between the government appointees and public sector workers on much salary differences which if not checked can spark unnecessary industrial attention in the country”.

Touching on the essence of collaborative efforts, the Proprietor of Jackson College of Education, Prof Ebenezer Jackson, advised teachers to pursue a unified front in order for the Association to remain progressive.

“If we do not have a unified front we’ll fight against each other. For us to move forward we need unity”.

Ghana and United Arab Emirates to collaborate on education

In July this year, Ghana and the United Arab of Emirates (UAE) are to collaborate on development of the education sectors of the two countries via technology and other strategic essentials for mutual benefits.

The two countries will adopt the best international learning practices in the areas of education, technology, school leadership, among others.

This followed the education minister’s 3-days educational tour of the United Arab of Emirates a week prior.

Dr Adutwum revealed that the trip was part of efforts to improve Ghana’s education system by learning from international best practices.

“I must say that I am very impressed with the state of educational infrastructure in this country.

“It is my firm belief that Ghana needs to move away from the routine rectangular structures for our school buildings and explore another cost effective yet built-to-last, multipurpose and ultramodern structures”.