The Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has given a five-day ultimatum to the Asuogyaman Education Directorate and the headmaster of Akwamuman Senior High School, demanding the payment of the July/August salaries of some teachers in the school.
The ultimatum comes after reports that the headmaster, Anim-Addo Asuoko, withheld the salaries of some teachers as punishment for missing a Professional Learning Community (PLC) session. NAGRAT argues that this action exceeds the powers granted under the Ghana Education Service (GES) code of conduct, which does not permit salary suspensions or require apology letters for non-attendance of PLC meetings.
The PLC initiative, introduced about eight years ago, aims to enhance teachers’ professional development and skills, awarding them credit points in the process. However, participation in the sessions is not supposed to impact salaries.
At a press conference on October 25 at NAGRAT’s Eastern Regional Secretariat in Koforidua, the association’s regional chairman, Awoonor-Yevu Godwin, criticized the headmaster’s actions, describing them as harmful to the work environment and detrimental to teacher morale.
“It has come to our attention that teachers who were unable to attend the Professional Learning Community PLC, are being victimized and treated unfairly.
“There’s nowhere in our conditions of service which specifies that failure to attend PLC sessions warrants headmasters or headmistresses to place an embargo on teachers’ salaries, and insist that teachers write an apology letter before the embargo is lifted.
NAGRAT urged the headmaster to reverse his decision promptly and warned of further action if the issue remains unresolved. The association also called on municipal and district education directors to stop victimizing teachers who miss Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and PLC sessions.