Nkoranza, Nov 25, GNA- Mr James Adjei Biney, Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Nkoranza District, has appealed to the government to institute a financial scheme to sponsor teachers pursuing distance-learning courses.

He said the initiative would serve as an incentive to encourage more teachers to upgrade themselves to offer quality teaching to pupils and students.

Addressing a meeting of Nkoranza District GNAT Council Mr Biney said lack of the facility would be a great disincentive as teachers on study are enjoying some fringe benefits.

''While teachers on study leave stay at the university campuses to study, distance education learners undertake their courses alongside their work in the classroom.''

Mr Biney said the scheme would be of great benefit to the nation as it would allow teachers to be in the classroom while at the same time learning to improve their output.

Mr Biney said the government's policy that the least classroom teacher should be a diplomat by the year 2005 would not be achieved if teachers do not get the chance to pursue such courses.

He urged teachers to take advantage of the distance-learning programme to upgrade themselves and face the challenges posed by the education reform programme.

GNAT commended teachers in the district who had taken advantage of the programme and are pursuing courses to better themselves.