General News of Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Source: GNA

Teachers hold conference in Takoradi

Takoradi, April 13, GNA - Nana Kofi Adjei Imbeah, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education, has appealed to the Teachers and Education Workers' union (TEWU) to look into the issue of indiscipline in the society and at the workplace. He made the call at the opening ceremony of the 10th Quadrennial Western Regional Delegates conference of TEWU at Takoradi. The conference was under the theme 93Sustaining Educational Challenges, The Role of TEWU as a Stakeholder". Mr Imbeah said the work code of the teaching profession abhorred some disciplinary acts which the members continue to flout with impunity.

He said absenteeism, lateness to work, malingering, excessive drinking and insubordination are a few of the indiscipline acts. Mr Imbeah said when such unacceptable behaviour receives reprimand, personnel see otherwise and fall on 93TEWU or GNAT or NAGRAT" to bail them out. Mr. Imbeah said the quest for materialism had eroded social values and ethics to the extent that some personnel use their office as a cloak for extortion.

He said such acts did not only dampen morale but also breed frustration which reduces the impact of quality education delivery. Mr. Peter Lumor, National Chairman of TEWU, said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission had introduced a new system of negotiating salaries and conditions of service and many negotiations have become centralized.