The Director of Gym School and Educational Consultancy, Mr Enoch Mensah, has launched a public appeal for teachers in Ghana to be supported to enjoy an educational and relaxation tour outside Ghana, arguing that teachers also deserve a vacation outside the country after years of dedicated service.
According to Mr Mensah, his work as an educational consultant has taken him across the country, where he has encountered teachers who “dedicate themselves and sacrifice both their time and money to support children in their various schools”. He said many of these teachers go beyond their official duties to ensure that learners succeed, often at personal cost.
Mr Mensah explained that for years he had nursed a silent desire to do something meaningful for teachers in appreciation of their sacrifices. That opportunity came last year when his outfit partnered with a Dubai-based tourism company, Magma Tourism, to organise a five-day tour to Dubai for about 150 nurses.
“They had lots of fun as professionals,” he said. “Then it struck me, why can’t we do the same thing for teachers? Teachers are professionals who have touched the lives of all other professionals because all professionals have gone through the hands of teachers.”
However, he admitted that affordability quickly became a major concern. The standard professional tour package to Dubai costs between $19,000 and $20,000, an amount beyond the reach of many teachers. He therefore engaged Magma Tourism to consider a significant reduction as a gesture of appreciation to teachers.
Following discussions, the package was reduced to $17,500. Mr Mensah said the discounted amount covers return air ticket to Dubai, visa, accommodation in a four-star hotel, daily buffet breakfast and dinner, and two special dinners — one on a yacht cruise and another during a desert safari experience.
The package also includes all transfers in Dubai, covering transportation from the airport to the hotel and to all tour centres and back. “When you put it all together, it is about 21 transfers. The $17,500 includes all that,” he explained, describing the offer as highly discounted and trustworthy.
Despite the reduction, Mr Mensah said he began receiving distressing calls from teachers who have served for 20 to 27 years but are unable to afford the trip due to family responsibilities. “Some said they wished to take the tour as a real pacification for all their life’s work, but they cannot do that because of the responsibilities on them. This saddened me,” he stated.
It was this development, he said, that prompted him to widen the conversation and appeal to the general public to consider sponsoring teachers. He believes that many individuals in Ghana have been positively impacted by teachers and may be willing to support them, either fully or partially.
“By sponsoring them, I mean paying the $17,500 for the package. Others may pay half or part of the money, and we are willing to defray the remaining cost so that the teacher can be on the trip,” he said.
Mr Mensah disclosed that some district executives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in some parts of the country have already opened opportunities for interested teachers to access their welfare funds to support the trip. As a result, several teachers from these districts have registered.
Currently engaging teachers in the Volta Region, Mr Mensah called on notable leaders from the region and beyond to come to the aid of deserving teachers. He cited instances of teachers from North Tongu and other constituencies who have expressed interest but are unable to complete payment.
“If these notable individuals are hearing me, it is my humble call for you to please come to the aid of these teachers. You have the right to choose the teacher from the school and district you desire,” he appealed.
He added that calls have also come from teachers in the Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions, as well as from Kasoa and Cape Coast, demonstrating nationwide interest.
Mr Mensah stressed that supporting teachers to travel is not merely a leisure initiative but an investment in education. “You are not only helping a teacher; you are helping the children in the classrooms because these teachers will come back edified, motivated and ready to give more than they have been giving,” he said.
He added that as part of the tour, teachers would have the opportunity to visit schools in Dubai to gain firsthand experience of their educational system, broaden their horizons, increase their exposure, and establish an international network that will enhance their professional delivery and mastery of their jobs.
Gym School and Educational Consultancy has operated for 17 years, focusing on training teachers and building their capacity to improve learning outcomes. Mr Mensah said the organisation has impacted more than 30,000 teachers across Ghana, earning their trust and confidence.
“Our collaboration with Magma Tourism is apt because they are based in Dubai and are known for handling large groups smoothly and effectively,” he said, assuring teachers that the same excellence with which his organisation delivers training will guide the tour arrangement.
An anonymous sponsorship has already boosted his confidence in the initiative. Mr Mensah recounted how a gentleman who was taught by a female teacher in the Volta Region during his junior high school days decided to sponsor her fully, requesting anonymity. “The following morning he paid the money and sent proof of payment,” he said, adding that the teacher was overwhelmed with joy when informed.
One of the prospective beneficiaries, Ms Bansa Graciela, a teacher in Ho with over ten years of experience, described the opportunity as unprecedented. “For the past 10 years and more, I have been teaching but never heard of any programme that allows teachers to travel outside to learn and see how the environment regarding our profession is,” she said.
She noted that while foreign educators have visited Ghana to co-teach and learn about local culture, similar exposure has rarely been extended to Ghanaian teachers. “When we are given that opportunity, it will help us. We teach learners and inculcate values into them. Seeing things first-hand will help us teach better,” she explained.
However, she admitted that affordability remains a challenge. “Honestly, as teachers, I am not sure we can easily afford such a cost. If people are willing to assist us in travelling outside and come back to help our learners, we will embrace it wholeheartedly,” she said.
Mr Mensah reiterated his call for individuals, corporate bodies and leaders who have benefited from teachers’ sacrifices to show appreciation by supporting at least one teacher, insisting that honouring teachers in this way will ultimately benefit the nation’s children and future.
