Pusiga (U/E), June 08, GNA - A total of 57 pupil teachers enrolled for the Untrained Teacher Training Diploma in Basic Education (UTTDBE) programme in April last year have pulled out, complaining of lack of financial support from district assemblies.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) designed the UTTDBE programme to upgrade the competency level of pupil-teachers within 4 years. The programme is also to address the acute shortage of qualified staff in rural communities in the three northern regions. Mr Luke Abugri, the Principal of Gbewaa Training College, said the programme took off with 529 pupil teachers from five districts, three from Upper East Region and two from Northern Regions. The districts are Bawku West, Garu-Tempane, East Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo and Bawku Municipal.

He said if measures were not put in place to check the number of teachers pulling out, only a few would be left and this would defeat the purpose of the programme.

Mr Abugri appealed to the assemblies to assist teachers pursuing the programme.

He suggested to the assemblies to collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGO), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) and School Management Committees (SMC) to absorb some of the expenses in acquiring modules and examinations fees whilst the teachers take up the others to relieve them of some their financial burdens.

Mr Abugri said the UTTDBE programme could turn out over 5,000 qualified teachers in the three regions by 2008/2009 academic year and called for total support and commitment by all stakeholders for it to succeed.