Nkoranza (B/A), May 23 GNA - Mr. Kwabena Agyemang-Badu, Nkoranza district director of education has urged members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to exercise restraint and dialogue with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Labour Council in their quest for improved conditions of service and guard against strike actions as such workers unrest affect the peace and stability of a state.

Mr. Agyemang-Badu was addressing delegates of the Nkoranza district branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) second quadrennial conference at Nkoranza.

He expressed grave concern about workers strikes and said as the State belongs to all the people of the country, it was important that workers should sit down with the government and negotiate their demands and to promote peace, understanding and development. The district director appreciated the cordial working relationship between the district directorate of education and the GNAT secretariat in Nkoranza and emphasized that teacher cooperative spirit with him and his office had really brought a remarkable improvement into the standard of education in the district.

Mr. Agyemang-Badu appealed to the leadership of GNAT to liaise with the government and the Ministry of Education to arrange an incentive package and facilities for teachers pursuing courses under the distance education programme in the same way as their colleagues in the universities who are enjoying study leave with pay and allowances. He stressed the need for the general public to appreciate the efforts of teachers and offer them the necessary support and encouragement to boost their morale and to enable them to work hard to enhance the nation's education.

The acting Brong-Ahafo regional chairman of GNAT, Mr. Colling Boahen cautioned teachers to eschew negative tendencies such s lateness, absenteeism and drunkenness which have negative effect on their work as teachers and also expose them to public criticism.

Mr. Boahen called on the teachers in Nkoranza to be self-disciplined and forge ahead in unity towards the promotion of education in the communities and they would command high respect from the people.

He announced that the leadership of GNAT had put the necessary and needed negotiations underway with the government towards improved working conditions for teachers to make them feel happy in the teaching profession.

Mr. Boahen therefore urged all teachers to intensify their efforts and work to commensurate the demands that they were requesting from the government and to move the state forward.

Mr. Adjei Yeboah, Nkoranza district chairman of GNAT was grateful to the delegates for attending the conference to share their views and to promote the activities of the association and their own welfare. He advised teachers to live above reproach as they are role models in the communities in order that they would command respect from the people of the areas they are serving.

Sixty-five delegates from the local GNAT Secretariat attended the conference.

In a solidarity message from the Nkoranza district branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) read by their representative Madam Akua Konadu, the nurses commended teachers for their hard work and efforts in producing all categories of workers nationwide and therefore wished GNAT long life and success in all its programmes and activities. A retired educationist from Akuma near Nkoranza, Mr. C.A. Baffoe was awarded with a citation and a parcel for playing a leading role in nurturing GNAT in Nkoranza district.