The National Inspectorate Board (NIB) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has identified teacher’s absenteeism as a threat to the country’s educational system.
This was contained in the final report of the NIB on the state of schools in the country from 2013 to the beginning of the 2014/2015 academic year, which was disclosed at a dissemination meeting in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
The report was based on a study conducted in 1,465 schools in 165 districts across the 10 regions of Ghana.
[contextly_sidebar id=”4Dw2FVa3Hu5NGH1WP0OICDTxAgeMZT7f”]Dr Augustine Tawiah, the Acting Chief Inspector of Schools, said the report revealed that, most teachers participated in workshop activities on school days, leaving the classrooms empty.
He said the inability of the head teachers to sanction or discipline habitual absenteeism or lateness to school, also contributed to the poor teaching and learning in schools.
Dr Tawiah said some of the reasons why teachers absent themselves were that of ill-health, long maternity leave and enrolling in sandwich programmes in universities to upgrade themselves.
The NIB, as part of its recommendations, urged the GES to review the conditions and modalities for granting permission to embark on distance education programmes.
He said there is the need to strengthen school supervision undertaken by head teachers and circuit supervisors.
According to him, teacher development should be seen as a continuous process involving regular short courses, seminars and work for both teachers and head teachers to sharpen their pedagogical skills and management respectively.
Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister, called on stakeholders in education to put all hands on deck and contribute towards a common goal, adding that, education needs the continuous support and co-operation from government.
He said government is still committed to providing equal and easy access to quality basic education, saying there are still some challenges but government would not relent in its efforts.
Source: GNA