Mahama Promises To Pay Teachers In Rural Areas Extra As Incentives: "Accept To Serve"

• National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Mahama has made a significant promise to teachers posted to rural areas
• Mahama has said teachers posted to rural areas can expect to get a 20 percent salary increment if they accept their postings
• The former president also said that teacher accommodation would be factored in when designing new schools

National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Mahama has pledged to pay teachers posted to rural areas 20 percent more than counterparts elsewhere.

In a Facebook post, Mahama expressed hope that this salary boost will adequately incentivise teachers posted to rural areas.

“Teachers who agree to serve in a rural school will be paid 20 percent of their salary as incentives. This will encourage teachers to accept to serve in rural schools,” Mahama said.

Mahama also said that teacher accommodation would be factored in when designing new schools for the basic and secondary levels.

Read also

Bawumia hands over first free tablets to Opoku Ware SHS students during Ashanti Region campaign tour

Godfred McThetheh Ansah, the chairman of the Concerned Teachers Association of Ghana in Kumasi, welcomed the promise but noted that teachers in rural areas would need much more than salary increments.

For example, he noted to YEN.com.gh that social amenities are out of their reach, and transportation is a challenge.

“The government must go and put up buildings for them and do well to get them light and what have you… infrastructure to help them live comfortably.”

There have been reports of teachers who have declined postings to rural areas, although some have shown some dedication.

For example, Agnes Agyapong Yeboah, a Ghanaian-trained teacher who was posted to teach in a village school in Hlihadzi in the Afram Plains of the Eastern Region, shared her plight as the only teacher in the school. Madam Agnes said several other teachers assigned to the school declined their postings.

Read also

Government proposes taxing Facebook, YouTube, Tonaton and other sites to generate revenue

She explained that the rest did not report due to the lack of electricity, access to potable water, and transportation options. She indicated that no car comes to Hlihadzi.

Agnes added that she struggles to teach all eight classes and needs many things to make teaching and learning easy. She pleaded with the government and other benevolent people to come to their aid.

Bawumia to involve PTAs in free SHS feeding programme

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Mahamudu Bawumia, proposed including parents in the feeding programme of the free SHS policy.

He said his proposal would allow parents to play integral roles in nourishing their wards at school.

These include monitoring foods distributed at schools and the quality and quantity of foods served to their wards.

Proofread by Edwina N.K Quarcoo, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh