Teachers urged to respect traditions in areas they serve

The Atwima-Mponua District Director of Education, Nii Amon Kotey, has advised newly posted teachers to avoid arrogance, pride and other reprehensible conducts that could bring them into conflict in areas where they serve. They should respect the traditions and beliefs of the local communities in order to win their support, trust and confidence. Nii Kotey gave the advice during an orientation course held for 105 fresh trained teachers sent to teach in the District at Nyinahin. He complained that the number of professionally trained teachers, particularly in deprived communities of the area were inadequate and said that was unhelpful to improved academic performance. Nii Kotey, therefore, appealed to his colleague teachers to accept to work in areas where their services were most needed. Mr A.K Obeng Kwakye, Head, Human Resource Management and Development of the District Education Directorate, said the lack of experienced teachers had created a situation where newly trained and in some cases untrained teachers, found themselves as heads of basic schools. He said that does not make for effective school-based appraisal of classroom teachers because majority of the heads tended to be unfamiliar with the Ghana Education Service (GES) appraisal system. Mr George Gyimah, the District Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Secretary, urged the teachers to be conversant with the code of discipline of the profession and abide by them.