Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan, Deputy Western Regional Minister, has urged teachers to work more diligently towards eliminating or reducing the incidence of schools scoring zero per cent in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

“Let your love for your country, the children, and the students that you teach take the centre stage of your programmes and activities as teachers,” he said.

Mr. Gyan, who stated this in an address read for him to commemorate this year’s World Teacher’s Day, at Takoradi, on Friday, challenged teachers to consider the day as a reminder of their commitment and dedication to duty.

Eleven Junior High School and two Senior High School teachers in the region were honoured at the ceremony for their outstanding performances. The day was marked under the theme: “Unite for Quality Education”.

Mr Gyan assured teachers that the government would continuously support them to deliver their best and also address issues related to their welfare.

He advised parents and guardians to appreciate the huge responsibility placed on teachers to train their children and give them the necessary support.

Mr. Matthew Adjardjah, Head of Professional Development Department of Ghana Education Service (GES), who represented the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), said it had been established that some newly engaged teachers had not been paid for months because the requisite financial clearance was not sought before employing them.

He said other teachers were also not receiving their salaries because they gave the wrong bank accounts.

Mr. Adjardjah said the GNAT was assisting to resolve these and other problems to enable the affected teachers to receive their wages.

He said GNAT was not happy about the implementation of the second-tier of the pension scheme, therefore, the association with Organized Labour, would soon take a stand on the issue.

Mr. Adjardjah criticised the termination of the appointment of pupil teachers by the GES, saying that the decision could have been sound if there were enough professional teachers to replace them.

Mr. James Biney, Regional Secretary of GNAT, urged the government and other stakeholders to work together as a united force to ensure quality education delivery.

He said teachers owed it their bounding duty to give of their best under improved conditions of service such as decent accommodation, timely delivery of teaching and learning materials, capitation grants, friendly school environment that included a good classrooms and a friendly community.