Gomoa Ankamu (C/R), Feb. 25, GNA - The Acting Gomoa District Director of Education, Mr Isaac Baidoo has expressed concern about how excessive alcoholism was killing teachers in the district and warned those still in the habit to reform or they will be kicked out. He said last year four teachers died through excessive drinking. Mr Baidoo was addressing a meeting of members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at Gomoa Ankamu, near Apam.

He called on GNAT to set up guidance and counselling units within the districts to provide counselling services to wayward members of the association.

He expressed concern about shortage of teachers in the country and appealed to the government to consider upgrading Teacher Training Colleges to the status of Diploma Awarding Institutions to arrest the situation where teachers leave the classrooms to upgrade their qualifications.

He appealed to teachers to take advantage of the distance education programme to upgrade themselves whilst remaining in the classroom. Mr Baidoo, however, cautioned them against using school hours for their private studies.

Mr Thomas Baifi, Central Regional GNAT Secretary advised teachers to write memorandum on policies and programmes which affect their work to their secretariat to enable the association seek redress.