Ho, Oct 11, GNA- Mr Kwami Alorvi, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Wednesday called on its members to halt all private classes as a show of total support for the Association's indefinite strike for better salaries and improved service conditions. Addressing a rally of members who thronged the Pensioners' Hall in Ho from all parts of the Volta region including some members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Alorvi said the strike was "a strike of destiny", for teachers of all descriptions.

He said the action was not a contest between GNAT and NAGRAT as their detractors sought to portray to the public in order to divide the ranks of teachers.

He said not even a 100 percent increase in the salaries of teachers would appease them, but a total overhaul of the pay structure of teachers commensurate with the responsibilities they exercised. Mr. Alorvi said NAGRAT was not against nurses and doctors for being able to attain their current salary levels, which he said should serve as basis for the living wage promised to workers by the government. He said NAGRAT was however not pleased with government taking the nurses and doctors out of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) for preferential treatment.

Mr. Alorvi commended the Minister of Health for his initiative in getting government to accord the Health Sector the current levels of salary and expressed disgust at the pronouncements of the Minister and deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports respectively, which tended to belittle teachers and the teaching profession.

He appealed to the teachers not to harass their Headmasters and Headmistresses who are currently under intense pressure as "obedient servants" to intimidate graduate teachers and the leadership of NAGRAT. "We will not disband even at the point of death", he emphasised. He said just like nurses and doctors, teachers performed other duties, similar to the Additional Duty Hour Allowance (ADHA), which should be factored into their salary structure as was done for the health workers. Mr. Alorvi enumerated some additional duties as marking scripts, ensuring that boarding students did not break bounds, having to attend to emergency calls to address issues regarding the welfare of boarding students and many other duties performed outside the normal school hours.

He hinted that if the situation persisted graduate teachers might not invigilate next June's West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

Mr. Alorvi said NAGRAT leadership would be meeting the Ghana Education Service Council tomorrow Thursday October 12, even though the Council would "have its say but we would have our way". Mr. Christian Addae, Vice-President of NAGRAT said the strike was "a must win fight".

He said it was only in Ghana that government gave priority to school infrastructure and other packages in the education sector to the neglect of the welfare of teachers who are crucial to the successful implementation of educational programmes.

Mr Addae predicted that if the plight of teachers were addressed all other issues relating to the quality of education would fall in place.