Keta, May 14, GNA - Teachers found indulging in an illicit relationship with female school children would be dismissed outright and made to lose all their service benefits before being handed over to face the full rigours of the law. The Director of Education, Mr. Simon K. Dewotor of Keta District gave the warning during a two-week tour of the district to interact with teaching and non-teaching staff, PTAs, School Management Committees and other stakeholders.

Mr. Dewotor emphasised that any form of indiscipline among the teachers, pupils and students such as drunkenness, absenteeism, lateness or laziness would carry the prescribed sanctions for the culprits. The Director asked teachers to regard themselves as indispensable partners in national development whose sacrifices and dedication, like those who taught them in the past, are needed to reverse the falling trends of educational standards in the country.

Mr. Dewotor stressed that since education is the key to national development any person or group of persons found in the way of promoting quality education is the greatest enemy of the state, whilst the hard working ones would become monumental blessing for generations to come. The Director, who was accompanied by his senior officers from the district interacted with teachers in 120 schools, grouped under 30 clusters with each cluster numbering over 50 teachers and other stakeholders.

On his part, Mrs Charlotte Tettey, Assistant Director in-charge of Administration, urged teachers to be conversant with the rules and regulations of the service so that they would not fall easy prey to any of them. She observed that under law, ignorance is no excuse for breaking a rule and cautioned them to avoid the scourges of indiscipline. Mrs. Tettey also advised, teachers to join the teachers' welfare fund and credit unions to cushion themselves in times of financial crises like bereavement or sickness since teachers' remuneration is relatively low.

The Assistant Director in-charge of Supervision, Mr. Samuel K. Atsyatsya urged teachers to be punctual to school and to be well prepared for all classes, stressing, "Punctuality is the soul of business."

Mr. Patrick Wodunkpe, Assistant Director for Planning and Statistics advised the teachers to ensure regular maintenance of school infrastructure, help check erosion and plant trees and flowers to beautify the school compound. He emphasised the need to take proper care of the school property such as the furniture and books either supplied by the government or by external donors.

In all the schools visited, the teachers were taken through various lessons on the procedures for making claims such as transfer grants, medical claims, promotions and adjustment of salaries for the workers, stressed Mr. Theophilus Gbekle, Accounts Division.