Teachers asked to go back to school

Teachers of the St. Johns 1&2 have stayed out of the classroom for over two weeks after they were assaulted by thugs in the school.

A class five pupil of the school was punished by her teacher for misconduct. But she is reported to have rather snubbed the teacher and walked out of the class. She only came back twenty minutes later, with thugs to the school and that was when the attacks on the teacher and the pupils begun.

The Greater Accra regional branch of the Association later cautioned its members to stay away from the school until stakeholders addressed the matter. The police started investigations which led to the arrest of the leader of the thugs.

In a statement signed by the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of GNAT Le Roy Levi Me Nara he said since “the authorities concerned have so far responded positively to our call and are still showing positive signs of meeting the rest of the demands that have not yet been met” they deem it fit to ask the teachers to return to the classroom.

Currently there are police officers stationed at the school to protect both teachers and students. The Association finally request that the various stakeholders do not renege on their efforts to bring the culprits to book and also “do all the other things that will make the School environments safe for teachers to discharge their professional duties in peace”.

Find below the full statement

Press Release

It has become necessary once again for us at the Greater Accra GNAT; to update the public through the media; on the latest with regard to the assault on our colleagues at the St John’s 1&2 Primary School at the Accra New Town area on the 7th of June 2016.

Since the incident occurred we made several appeals to all the relevant authorities concerned to ensure that:

The culprits who assaulted the teachers of St John’s 1&2 Primary School be arrested and brought to justice

The teachers who were burgled in the process of the assault; of their phones, laptops, money and any other personal effects; be compensated.

The teachers of St John’s 1&2 Primary School (especially those that have indicated that they would not be comfortable to remain there) be transferred from that school to other suitable locations to protect them from reprisal attacks and also restore their sense of personal dignity and safety; for them to be able to exact their authority over the children they teach in executing their professional duties;

There be an arrangement to counsel the victims to restore them to their right frame of mind for them to continue to discharge their professional duties as teachers

Security be beefed up at the St John’s 1&2 Primary School and indeed all schools within the Greater Accra Region by way of walling the schools and providing day and night guards/watchmen.

A mechanism be developed to sensitize communities that host schools to peacefully co-exist with the teachers and resolve their differences through laid down procedures.

The Police have confirmed to us that they have arrested the leader of the culprits who assaulted the teachers of the St John’s 1&2 Primary School and efforts being made to get the rest arrested and brought to book.

While the Mayor of Accra; Honourable Alfred Okoh Vandapuje, has made good his promise to donate cash sums to every teacher and refund the lost cash in two fold; the MP of the Ayawaso Central Honourable Henry Quartey has also given to every member of staff a new Phone and a halve piece of cloth while the specific victims were given a laptop each in addition.

There are up to five armed police that are guarding the St John’s 1&2 Primary School since Monday and the Accra Mayor has indicated that no harm will befall any of the teachers while on their way to school or returning home; and we want to take him for his word.

We also have information that the Metro Director of Education is making the necessary arrangements to transfer the teachers who wish to be transferred to safe locations where they can discharge their duties with peace of mind

The directorate has also deployed guidance and counseling officers to provide the necessary counseling for the affected teachers and children on a daily basis for a reasonable period of time.

Perhaps what remains to be done include:

to ensure that the rest of the culprits are arrested and all of them prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others so that teachers are not attacked in the future

Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that all schools within the Accra Metropolis and indeed the Greater Accra, are safe and secure for teaching and learning without fear of future attacks

The transfer of the teachers to locations that they can be happier and psyched up to continue to discharge their duties the way it is expected of them.

A conscious effort to interface with the community to promote peaceful coexistence between teachers and community members to prevent future attacks on teachers

We will therefore continue to monitor the situation and do all that is necessary and legal; in the pursuit of justice for our teachers and prevent future attacks on teachers.

We call on the Police and all the relevant authorities not to renege on their particular roles that they need to play in ensuring that the rest of the culprits are arrested and adequately punished; and do all the other things that will make the School environments safe for teachers to discharge their professional duties in peace.

We would equally call on all and sundry to continue to cooperate with teachers so that we can provide the quality education that we all desire, for the Ghanaian child.

As we express our profound gratitude to the Accra Mayor, the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, the Police and the Metro and Regional Directors of Education in particular; and all other personalities and authorities including the media and our sister unions for their total support in meeting most of our demands; we would continue to solicit your diverse support in ensuring that the incidence of teacher assault is totally eradicated and our school environments made safe and conducive for teaching and learning.

In view of the aforesaid we are asking our teachers of the St John’s 1&2 Primary School to return to work while waiting for the Metro Director of Education to effect the transfer of those teachers who wish to be transferred.

We on our part do hereby charge all teachers to unite and continue to contribute their quota as is expected of them in our resolve to promote quality education delivery in Ghana; as the GNAT continues to play its critical role as it has done over the years to improve upon the provision of educational services to children in Ghana.

Thanks to everyone.

GNAT: WE LIVE TO TEACH!!!

Signed

Le Roy Levi Me Nar