The Ghana Education Service (GES) has called on government institutions involved in the payment of teachers to put aside internal disagreements and focus on resolving the ongoing teacher payment delays.
GES Head of Public Relations Daniel Fenyi said the priority should be ensuring that teachers receive the money owed to them, urging the relevant government agencies to work together to address the concerns.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Mr Fenyi said he would prefer that stakeholders concentrate on finding a solution rather than assigning blame.
GES Calls for Cooperation Over Teacher Payments
Daniel Fenyi said the situation is particularly concerning because teacher unions generally consider the Ministry of Education, GES, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) as one government team during negotiations.
He said disagreements among the institutions over the payment issue were therefore unfortunate.
According to him, the most important objective at this stage is to resolve the payment challenges and ensure that teachers receive their outstanding money.
Education Minister Directs GES to Submit Documents
Mr Fenyi disclosed that the Minister of Education had met with representatives of the teacher unions and provided assurances regarding the payment concerns.
He said the minister subsequently directed the GES to work with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to provide the documents required to facilitate the payment process.
The documents include promotion letters and other relevant records needed to process the affected teachers.
GES Given Deadline for Teacher Payment Documents
The GES Public Relations Head confirmed that the Service has been given until next Monday at 4 p.m. to submit the required documentation.
He clarified that the deadline does not relate to the Monday on which he was speaking but applies to the following Monday.
The documentation is expected to cover approximately 58,000 teachers, while the broader figure of more than 80,000 affected staff includes both teaching and non-teaching personnel.
Mr Fenyi explained that the teaching staff alone account for approximately 59,000 to 60,000 teachers.
GES Staff Working Around the Clock
According to Mr Fenyi, staff at the GES headquarters are working extended hours to ensure the Service meets the deadline for submitting the required documentation.
He expressed optimism that progress would be made and indicated that teachers could receive further updates soon.
Mr Fenyi reiterated that the GES is approaching the payment issue through cooperation with teacher unions and other relevant government agencies.
Teachers’ Welfare Remains a Priority
The GES official assured teachers that their welfare remains a key priority for the Service.
He said the GES has previously worked under pressure to meet important deadlines and would continue putting in the necessary effort to resolve the current payment challenges.
The Service, he said, is committed to ensuring that affected teachers receive the necessary attention so they can return to their classrooms without further disruption.
GES Seeks to Protect Academic Calendar
Daniel Fenyi also stressed that the teacher payment dispute should not disrupt Ghana’s academic calendar.
He said the GES has made progress in stabilising the academic schedule and does not want the current payment challenges to undermine that progress.
The Service is therefore working with the relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue while protecting teachers’ welfare, teaching and learning, and the stability of Ghana’s education system.
Source: newsthemegh.com