Fijai (W/R), Jan. 26, GNA - Mr. Harry Falconer, the Vice Chairman of the National Association of Retired Educationists (NARED), has said the association would not allow itself to be used as stop gaps during strikes by teachers.

He said the attitude of politicians to recall members of NARED to the classrooms during strikes must end.

"It is unfortunate that our expertise is always sought after many of us had served in similar deplorable conditions," Mr. Falconer said in a fraternal message at the 2005-2006 Western Regional best teacher and workers awards ceremony at Fijai on Thursday.

Mr Falconer said retired teachers suffered and worked under harsh and poor service conditions and did not see why they should step in when there is a crisis in the education sector.

Mr. Falconer said it was ideal for the Ghana education Service (GES), the GES Council, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and other appropriate agencies to use negotiation to settle the crisis anytime they erupted instead of recalling retired teachers to go back to the classrooms.

"We need to work as a unified body comprising of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) and must not allow the use of 'divide and rule' to destroy the teachers front" he cautioned.

He said that that quality education would improve if the service conditions of the educationists were improved. Mr. Falconer advised teachers not to use poor salaries and service conditions as an opportunity to engage in absenteeism but should work hard while negotiating for improved conditions. Mr. Robin Faidoo, Western Regional Chairman of the NAGRAT said "we will continue to agitate for the improvement of the conditions of service of teachers and thereby liberate them from the shackles of poverty". 26 Jan 07