The Upper West regional branch of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has given government up to the 30th of April to rescind its directive to pay only three months of arrears to newly recruited teachers, those on promotion as well as teachers on reactivation.
At a press conference in Wa on Tuesday addressed by the Upper West regional chairman of the association, Pious Laari Azumah, the group said teachers who have genuinely worked for more than two years and their counterparts who applied to be put on their right grades after promotions two years ago for no fault of theirs, have forfeited their salary arrears because of the directive.
The association described the decision as unthinkable and an injustice that has the potential to negatively affect quality education in the country.
“NAGRAT wishes to call on government to note that this move is unfair, unlawful and has the tenacity to generate futuristic consequences which will endanger the education sector in the country,” he said.
In a letter dated 4th November, 2013, government through the Ministry of Finance issued a directive to the effect that payment of salary arrears was fast becoming a major source of fiscal over run; hence arrears in respect of recruitments, promotions and reactivations should not exceed three months of the date of implementation.
A decision NAGRAT believes was not well thought through and must be scraped saying, “no one thought of the implication of this directive before it was implemented and we think that it must be stopped”
The group blamed government for allegedly denying teachers their incremental credits and vehicle maintenance allowances.
This issue has been raised over and over in public discourse but only continue to expose the government’s non readiness in finding a permanent solution to it.”
The association advised government to urgently address all outstanding issues with teachers or take full responsibility of any action they will embark after the 3oth April deadline.
By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana