Teachers Ignore Betty’s Appeals

Despite appeals from educational authorities for calm and restraint, dissatisfied teachers who say they were given paltry sums, inconsistent with their expectations, by the Single Spine Salary Structure, are gathering for protests in various parts of the country.

At Gbawe in Accra, teachers of the Methodist Primary School have been forced out of the classrooms by other demonstrating teachers wearing armbands.

An eyewitness told Joy FM bewildered pupils strapped their bags preparing to go home while their teachers sent for rims of red cloth – the tool with which they hope to fight for more money. In the Bono Ahafo region, teachers are also reportedly gearing up for street protests.

The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, who is in Accra is rushing back to the region for an emergency Regional Security Council meeting to fashion a response to the crisis.

Teachers were migrated onto the SSSS last month amidst anticipation that their lot will be bettered. Some government spokespersons said teachers were going to smile wildly if they were put on the scheme but the teachers say they are utterly disappointed with the negligible increases – in some cases decreases – in their salaries.

Education Minister Betty Mould Iddrisu Thursday morning has been appealing to the teachers to come to her office for dialogue on the matter but it appears her appeals have gone unheeded.

Her deputy, Mahama Ayarigah told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah the whole idea of the SSSS was miscommunicated.

In his view, the scheme was not intended to increase in salaries as was anticipated but to rationalize workers’ allowances and their salaries.