Ho, June 28, GNA - Mr Mawusi Alexander Buadi, Volta Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has appealed to teachers to respect the rights of pupils and students.

"As professionals, we must devise innovative ways of ensuring discipline in the classrooms while respecting the rights of our pupils and students," he said.

Mr Buadi said this at an interaction with teachers in the Ho Municipal Area as part of the Regional Executives' tour of the area.

"We must know that our pupils and students have rights and obey those rights irrespective of any wrong they might have committed, though it is true that when you spare the rod, you spoil the child, we must go by the laws of the land," he said.

Mr Buadi explained that some pupils and students have fears for cane and that its mere presence in the classroom and in the hands of the teacher puts them off.

He said GNAT leadership remained committed to ensuring the best for teachers and called for commitment and support from all.

Mr Attey Linus Coffie, the Volta Regional GNAT Secretary, advised teachers to abide by the code of ethics of the profession to redeem its sunken image.

He said the attitude of some teachers at work and in society had damaged the image of the teaching profession hitherto known to be noble to the extent that many teachers now felt ashamed to openly declare that they are teachers.

During an open forum, some teachers requested that the Association's code of ethics be made available to all members.