Mr. Richard Kovey, Convenor of the Campaign Against Privatization and Commercialization of Education (CAPCOE), has revealed that teachers in Ghana spend between 35 and 40 per cent of their monthly salaries on transportation to and from school. This finding was disclosed in a preliminary study examining the conditions under which teachers work and the financial demands associated with their profession. The study highlights the significant burden of transportation costs on teachers, particularly those posted to schools located far from their homes.
The transportation costs accumulate significantly over the course of a month, adding to the financial strain on teachers. Accommodation is another major expenditure confronting teachers, particularly those working in urban areas, where rent can consume more than 30 per cent of their salaries. The combined effect of transportation and accommodation costs places considerable pressure on teachers, affecting their overall well-being and financial stability.
Mr. Kovey emphasized that the current concerns of teachers should not be viewed solely from the perspective of promotion, as promotion provides limited immediate financial benefits. He explained that while promotion is important for career progression and access to positions of responsibility, improved conditions of service have a more direct impact on teachers' financial well-being. Therefore, addressing the financial and professional needs of teachers is crucial to alleviating their concerns.
To address these concerns, Mr. Kovey advocated for the development of a robust digital system to reduce delays and administrative difficulties associated with the promotion process. He suggested that promotion examination results should be integrated into the Ghana Education Service (GES) Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), where teachers' employment records are already maintained. This would enable the system to automatically identify teachers who have successfully completed promotion examinations.
The integration of promotion examination results into the HRMIS would also help strengthen efforts to address corruption and payroll-related fraud by allowing relevant information to be verified electronically. Additionally, Mr. Kovey raised concerns about the manual signing of promotion letters, which he believes places a significant administrative burden on the Director-General of GES. The current Director-General is required to sign more than 80,000 promotion letters with wet ink.
The manual signing process contributes to delays in issuing promotion letters, which can further exacerbate the concerns of teachers. Mr. Kovey's suggestions aim to streamline the promotion process, reduce administrative burdens, and improve the overall efficiency of the system. By leveraging technology, the GES can enhance the management of teacher promotions and improve the working conditions of teachers.
The CAPCOE convenor's revelations highlight the need for policymakers to re-examine the conditions of service for teachers in Ghana. By addressing the financial and professional needs of teachers, the government can help alleviate the burden of transportation and accommodation costs, ultimately improving the quality of education in the country. The proposed digital system and integration of promotion examination results into the HRMIS are potential solutions to improving the promotion process.
Key points
- Teachers in Ghana spend 35-40% of their monthly salaries on transportation.
- The combined effect of transportation and accommodation costs places considerable pressure on teachers.
- A robust digital system is needed to reduce delays and administrative difficulties associated with the promotion process.
