The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) is urging Parliament to summon the Minister of Education to address recent power outages that have affected several schools across Ghana. This call to action follows the disconnection of Accra Academy from the national power grid due to outstanding arrears amounting to approximately GHs480,000 owed to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
Speaking on Joy FM, Jacob Anaba, Vice President of NAGRAT, highlighted that Accra Academy was not the sole institution impacted by power disruptions. He cited incidents at Sunyani Senior High School and St. James Seminary in the Bono Region, along with water challenges faced by various schools this year.
Anaba expressed concerns about the Ministry of Education's lack of proactive measures in addressing these issues, particularly the accumulation of arrears. He emphasized the need for Parliament's intervention to shed light on the situation and potentially improve teaching and learning conditions in second-cycle institutions.
“The Ministry has not been proactive. For us to be owing the third quarter and fourth quarter, and we are not even talking about this year, then there is a serious problem. I will urge Parliament to invite the Minister to Parliament to explain to the Ghanaian public what is actually happening for us to get understanding,” Mr Anaba explained on the Super Morning Show.
NAGRAT's advocacy underscores the importance of addressing infrastructure challenges in educational institutions to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning. By engaging Parliament in the discussion, stakeholders aim to find sustainable solutions to mitigate power outages and enhance the educational experience for students and teachers alike.