Former President John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has outlined plans to prioritize basic level education if re-elected president in December, emphasizing its critical role as the foundation of a strong educational system.
During a meeting with the leadership of three pre-tertiary teacher unions in Accra, Mr. Mahama assured that his next government would allocate resources to enhance teaching, learning, and performance at the basic level. This commitment includes improving infrastructure, ensuring timely distribution of teaching and learning materials, and prompt disbursement of capitation grants to ensure effective school management.
Accompanied by key party members, including Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, his Running Mate for the 2024 election, Mr. Mahama acknowledged that Ghana's education sector faced significant challenges and required broader stakeholder involvement. He pledged to facilitate a stakeholder dialogue within the first 100 days of assuming office to address these challenges collectively.
Massive infrastructure development in the education sector, aimed at addressing school congestion and enhancing the teaching and learning environment, was highlighted as a priority. Mr. Mahama emphasized the NDC's commitment to vigorously pursue its policy of infrastructure development, giving priority attention to abandoned infrastructure in basic, senior high, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools, including E-blocks.
Addressing the Free Senior High School and TVET programme, Mr. Mahama stressed the necessity of reviewing the policy to address challenges and strengthen its positives. He also pledged to mainstream Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and TVET education into the national education system to achieve a holistic goal.
In terms of teacher motivation, Mr. Mahama promised to collaborate with teacher unions and the Ghana Education Service to roll out incentive packages, particularly for teachers in underserved areas. He proposed gathering comprehensive data on teachers in such areas to ensure adequate compensation for the challenges they face.
Additionally, Mr. Mahama announced plans to develop Auto Loan and Housing Schemes to support teachers in acquiring cars and houses, particularly those with a 15 to 20-year working life ahead of them. He pledged to collaborate with teacher unions in implementing these schemes.
Furthermore, Mr. Mahama promised to decentralize the posting of teachers to ensure equitable deployment, halting the current centralized posting from the GES Headquarters and reverting to deployment by the Regional/District Directorates of education.
Responding on behalf of the unions, Mr. Eric Angel Carbonu, President of NAGRAT, emphasized the importance of political promises being embedded in party manifestos. He urged political parties to consult the unions' document containing policies, programs, and demands for the next government and incorporate them into their manifestos.
Mr. Carbonu also called on Mr. Mahama to work towards restoring the image of the teaching profession to attract committed individuals to the field.
