The pride of the teacher

Everyone wants to be proud of 'what they do for a living' but who wants to be a teacher in Ghana? People are proud to be doctors, architects, accountants, marketers, lawyers, pilots florists, computer engineers, etc., but no one is proud to be a teacher in Ghana.

If teachers are one of the most important resources of and for a nation's growth and progress, then why has Ghana as a sovereign nation not yet recognised this yet and has made no effort to appraise their teachers and the teaching profession?

Teachers in Ghana have forever been maligned, mistreated, underpaid and uncared for. They are handed down very meagre salaries and have very low pensions.

Teachers in Ghana are so disrespected and looked down on because they are at the bottom of the intellectual economic chain.

However, the fact still remains that the teacher taught them all.

In Ghana, in their lifetime, a teacher is not expected to buy a car (used or new) or land, let alone build a decent house for him or herself, yet the teacher taught and teaches everyone else.

Policy makers must turn their attention to teachers and the profession, just as the Kufuor Administration (2000 to 2008) did so much for the Police (Security) Service who are very well favoured by the Single Spine Salary Structure.

Very poor pensions demotivate teachers. Many can hardly afford medical bills after retiring and are thus, sent too early to their graves.

It is time we all rose and rooted for the Ghanaian teacher. They should be rewarded right here on earth; and not in an unsure heaven.

Ghanaian teachers are so needed, respected and valued in many other countries, except in Ghana.

History

Let us not forget that other nations used to send their best students to come and study in the Gold Coast and early Ghana, which was the pride and centre of Africa when it came to things related to formal education.

Currently, Ghana still attracts students from all over Africa, especially other West Africans; probably because of her past glory, but the education system is nothing to write home about. The teacher can hardly afford any good thing for him or herself due to very poor remuneration. Teachers can hardly send their own children to some of the top schools in Ghana.

It is as if teachers are less human who do not matter or who only matter less.

Teaching is a calling and a gift that borders on passion for souls' enlightenment, growth and success, but it seems to be a curse to be a teacher in Ghana.

"The teacher taught us all"

We all must rally around the flag of Ghana and create and rewrite history by leading this cause and joining the revolution for the Ghanaian teacher who is also part of us, our society and our progress as a nation.

The proper motivation would see Ghanaian teachers looking up with more hope and excitement and going the extra mile to innovate and invent new ways to teach and help enlighten the next generation.

The teaching profession is not less of a profession than others.

Teaching as a profession should be made more attractive and should also attract some of the best brains.

In some nations, as a national priority and policy, some of the best graduates are retained to become teachers, something they gladly accept to do, to serve as teachers, knowing very well that they will be treated as equally important as other professionals in other fields.

The Ghanaian populace is so prejudiced against its own teachers. Ghanaians are so quick to deride Ghanaian teachers. This is much so because the best brains prefer to be in other more rewarding careers than in the unattractive teaching field.

Only a few teachers are really dedicated to teaching, yet their passion soon get snuffed for lack of leadership drive etc.

It is about time the teaching profession was appraised to attract some of the best brains and finest persons too.

The much-touted education reforms in Ghana started way back but governments only end up giving excuses for not being able to make any progress.

The reforms must start with the human resource of the education service, from pre-selection, selection, training and equipping.

Even the way we build school housing structures leaves much to be desired.

Let us start the revolution now.