Sunyani, March 02, GNA – Mr. Samuel Alobuia, the acting President of the Ghana National Association of Teacher (GNAT), on Thursday reiterated the Association’s call on the government to support teachers engaged in distance learning programmes.

He said the government should commit itself to this support in the areas of subventions, release time to participate in classes and also the approved examinations.

Mr. Alobuia was addressing a meeting of about 500 members of the association in Sunyani East District and Sunyani Municipality at Sunyani.

The meeting was part of a nation-wide tour by the national executives of the Association on a four-day visit to the Brong-Ahafo Region. They have already been to Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Upper East and Upper West regions.

Mr. Alobuia said when the distance education programme was started about a decade ago with the University of Cape Coast and University of Education playing the lead role, GNAT’s position was that the Ministry of Education should take control of the policy.

“Our position on the issue is that the Ministry of Education should take control of the whole policy on distance learning and delegate implementation to the tertiary institutions involved in the programme.

He said GNAT expected the coordinating role of the Ministry to include fixing of tuition fees, production of modules and monitoring and evaluation through such agencies as the National Accreditation board

Mr. Alobuia said the GNAT secretariat was concerned about the welfare of members and was arranging for a housing project for interested members