IMF deal won’t affect nursing & teacher trainees allowance – Govt

The central government following the claim nursing and teacher trainees allowance will be scrapped amid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $3 billion bailout says the initiatives will not be affected by the nature of the deal.

In a speech read on behalf of President Akufo-Addo at the 175th Anniversary of the Presbyterian College of Education, the health and education allowance was tagged as a social intervention program strongly protected during the negotiation with IMF for the loan.

“I know that the difficulty in the economic landscape which has resulted in government’s signing up for a program with International Monitory Fund may cause you some concern. But none of the allowances of the teaching profession will be affected with our program with IMF

There were certain things which are not to be touched and the teacher allowances was on of such protected allowance. The difficulty in prompt payment is coming from our own mobilization of resources and not the IMF once you have it you can be sure that teachers allowances and the rest of it will be honoured appropriately,” the speech noted.

Senior Presidential Advisor Yaw Osafo-Maafo who read the speech on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa expressed the commitment of the government to the teacher education and profession to ensure quality education.

Commenting on the introduction of the Ghana teacher licensure examination (GTLE), the Advisor said the exam is aimed at lifting the image of the profession and avoiding a situation where unqualified persons could pose as teachers.

“The introduction of licensing examination for teachers was done in the utmost good fate. It is aimed at lifting the image of the profession and avoiding situations where unqualified persons could pose as teachers and in the process bring the profession into disrepute,” he noted.

Marfo added that “it is my expectation that interventions such as the distribution of laptops and payment of continuous professional development allowance to teachers will systematically improve the capacity and morale among the teaching profession and our teachers”.