Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has mounted a strong advocacy for better conditions of service to teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Ghana as part of efforts to revamp the education sector.
This, he sees, as a critical aspect of financing education in the country.
His Majesty’s incontrovertible argument is premised on the fact that spending on educational infrastructures alone does not make up the nitty-gritty of education.
Among the equally significant aspects of education, he said, were the provision of learning materials and “reasonable” remuneration for teachers.
“We need to look at the financing of education, what resources are available and how they are allocated to the various levels to ensure equity. This is at the root of all the discourse. Education is an expensive investment. The expenditure on buildings is huge but buildings alone do not provide education.
“Learning and teaching materials must be available. In the 21st Century, there should be no school without computers, without the means to provide the Basic ICT skills and we should ensure our teachers are reasonably remunerated for the critical service they provide.”
The country has consistently witnessed a series of industrial actions by players at the various levels of the educational sector principally in demand for better conditions of service. The recent was the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).
Otumfuo was speaking at an event where he was honoured with a doctorate degree by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the Central Region on September 5, 2024.
Source: Manhyia Palace
