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If John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), wins the next elections, he will implement a 20 percent allowance for teachers in rural areas.
Mr. Mahama emphasized the vital need for such an allowance to draw educators to underserved rural communities struggling with a teacher shortage while speaking at a town hall meeting in the Western Region.
“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 communities should receive the allowance represents a major challenge, but he was determined to find a comprehensive solution.
In addition, Mr. Mahama addressed the concerns voiced by operators of private schools who were unhappy about what they saw as unfair advantages provided to public school exams.
Mr. Mahama pledged, “We will look into and suggest appropriate solutions to address the challenges faced by rural areas,” demonstrating his dedication to leveling the playing field for both public and private educational institutions.
Mr. Mahama went on to clarify that a comprehensive review of the free Senior High School policy 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 review.
“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 probed, emphasizing the need for an all-encompassing strategy to address the changing issues facing the education sector.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
