The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has expressed strong disapproval and grave concern over the government’s plan to present a Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill to Parliament without extensive consultation with key stakeholders, particularly teacher unions.
The leadership of the teachers’ union consisting of President Eric Agbe-Carbonu, Vice President Jacob Anaba, General Secretary Michael Ayuraboya, and Deputy General Secretary Rene Senyo Kwamikorkor, in a joint statement condemned the move by the Ministry of Education, denouncing the lack of engagement with teacher unions, which are essential to the successful implementation of the Free SHS program.
“In an interview granted by the Hon. Minister of Education to the Daily Graphic a fortnight ago, he indicated that the said Bill will among other things, decouple the Junior High School (JHS) from the Primary School, and make it part of Senior High School, thereby creating six years of Secondary Education as well as the cancellation of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as a precondition for gaining admission to the Senior High School. It bears noting that, NAGRAT is curious about this unfortunate development, if what we have read and heard is indeed true”.
President Eric Agbe-Carbonu, Vice President Jacob Anaba, General Secretary Michael Ayuraboya, and Deputy General Secretary Rene Senyo Kwamikorkor, NAGRAT
The statement further noted that since the implementation of the Free SHS program, the National Association of Graduate Teachers has consistently called for a review to correct existing flaws and enhance its positive aspects, highlighting the failure of the government to adhere to the association’s concerns and recommendations on the free SHS program.
The leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers emphasized the substantial sacrifices made by teachers since the program’s inception, often without due recognition or appreciation.
The association thus criticized the Ministry of Education for displaying what it described as “gross disrespect and disregard” towards teachers by hastily pushing forward with the Bill without consulting those directly affected.
The leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers recalled their active participation in shaping the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), and the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), underscoring the importance of stakeholder input in educational legislation.
Call to Action
In light of these concerns, the leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers urged the government to suspend the presentation of the Free SHS Bill to Parliament.
They admonished the government, particularly the Ministry of Education to initiate broad consultations to ensure mutual respect and acceptance of any new educational laws.
“Therefore, NAGRAT takes exception to the effrontery of the Hon. Minister of Education to have consciously assumed that the views and inputs of the stakeholders do not matter in this Bill”.
President Eric Agbe-Carbonu, Vice President Jacob Anaba, General Secretary Michael Ayuraboya, and Deputy General Secretary Rene Senyo Kwamikorkor, NAGRAT
Additionally, the leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers called on Parliament, particularly the Select Committee on Education, to reject the Bill in its current form due to the absence of contributions from key educational stakeholders, including teacher unions.
They reiterated the National Association of Graduate Teachers’ commitment to engaging in constructive dialogue and contributing valuable insights to shape Ghana’s educational policies effectively.
They emphasized that the inclusion of stakeholder perspectives is crucial for the successful implementation and sustainability of any educational reforms.
The leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers concluded their statement by emphasizing the association’s call for a suspension and comprehensive review of the Bill, underscoring the critical need for collaborative efforts in shaping the future of Ghana’s education system.
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