The Ghana Education Service (GES) has said that teachers at the basic schools who went for their studies to upgrade themselves in programs that does not relate to subjects at the Basic School level cannot get upgrading. In other words, such certificates cannot be used for upgrading.
An exclusive report by EducationGhana’s Ellis Ferdinand indicates that some regional education directorates decline the request to accept the upgrading of teachers who upgraded themselves in subjects areas that are only practically accepted in the Senior High Schools but find themselves teaching at the basic schools.
The report indicates, that apart from the Volta Region who accepts the applications for the upgrading of such teachers to Principal Superintendent, almost all regions in the country decline such applications.
Reasons
Speaking with some regional directorates with respect to the report, it was realized that such regions said teachers with Bachelors Degrees in some special subject areas do not teach such subjects at the basic schools hence cannot be upgraded.
The GES said the decision was due to the fact that the learners at the basic schools do not benefit directly from the degrees hence cannot be upgraded.
The GES further indicated that such degrees though can help with knowledge acquisition for the teaching of the children, there is no direct benefit from the course of study.
The reports suggest that the GES believes teachers with special Bachelor Degree meant for SHS should be teaching at the SHS before they can be upgraded.
Subject Areas
Notable subjects areas according to reports include Accounting, Management, Economics, etc.
Teachers’ Agitations
Speaking to some teachers, they felt it was rather unfortunate for them to be denied upgrading because they do not teach at the SHSs.
The teachers questioned the motive from the GES. This, they say, is making teaching very unbearable for teachers.
The way Forward
Speaking on the possibility of such teachers being upgraded, the GES indicated that such teachers can only be upgraded when they are re-posted to the Senior High Schools to teach.
Source: educationghana.org
