Luv FM fans were inspired to raise money to pay off the debts of a female teacher who has spent 28 years of her life teaching but is presently living off of loans after hearing her tale.
The female teacher who joined the conversation on the reasons why teachers are quitting their jobs said that despite being a headmistress at the moment, she has been teaching for 28 years and makes less than GH50,000 annually.
She informed the Luv host She relies on loans to support her three children, David Akuetteh, and makes do with a monthly wage of GH950 after several deductions.
She remarked, "Things are quite challenging since I have to get loans to simply satisfy basic demands." I just just reached out to many coworkers to ask for a loan to cover my older daughter's approaching university expenses. I have three children.
She further disclosed that her headmistress's monthly remuneration of GH 2000 is actually only worth GH 950 after deductions.
I haven't had a promotion since 2001, so it's challenging, she said. Things are particularly challenging at school since I occasionally have to pay for necessities like photocopying with my own income.
She acknowledged that although she had spent her whole life in Ghana due to her passion of educating children, she would now gladly leave if given the chance.
During his on-air appeal, broadcaster David Akuetteh raised more than GH1,000. As the living situation for many who have given their entire lives for the classroom work in the public sector, especially in the face of mounting economic costs, many instructors may relate to this teacher's dilemma.
According to a GNAT poll conducted in June 2022, 7,000 teachers leave their positions per year on average.
According to the report, this issue is particularly common in rural regions due to a lack of accommodations for instructors and government negligence in the form of adverse laws.
On the programme, the Ahafo Ano GNAT District Chairman, Elvis Prince Biney, and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Prosper Tachie, identified inadequate working conditions, a lack of income, and limited opportunities for advancement as some factors contributing to the situation.
The headmistress who phoned into the programme and other teachers with 20 to 30 years of experience made sacrifices to remain in Ghana despite receiving significantly less pay, according to Tachie Prosper, the regional chairman of GNAT.
Although teachers are supposedly making more money these days, according to him, their salary's buying value has significantly declined over time.
Teachers used to make about GH640 in the 1990s and 1980s, but today they make about GH1,800, according to Prosper. "These data are deceiving since the Ghanaian Cedi (GH) has lost value,"
"The currency rate most recently valued at GH8.8 to $1, down from about GH2.3 to $1 in the 1990s." He spoke.
Language hurdles are still another significant issue for teachers in remote locations, according to Jojo, a junior high school teacher from a rural area who called the show.
Even though we are supposed to teach in English, Jojo noted that many pupils in rural regions had difficulty with the language. "Outside of the classroom, most communication is conducted in the local tongue, which many instructors assigned in the respective regions do not speak or understand."
Although instructors are offered perks including responsibility and a car maintenance allowance, payment is not assured, according to GNAT District Chairman Elvis Prince Biney.
What's fascinating, according to Binay, is that as you advance in your career, your responsibility allotment drops but your obligations grow.
Tachie Prosper, the regional chairman for GNAT, disclosed that since 2019, he has not received his automobile maintenance stipend.
Elvis Prince Biney observed that the wage rise following a promotion is so little that it essentially has no discernible impact.
For instance, there is just a GH150 wage rise from Senior Superintendent I to Principal Superintendent.
Despite the demanding lives that teachers lead, the general public has the misconception that they do not enjoy their spare time.
Binay stated, "One thing we must understand is that instructors are busy even when they are not in class, grading assignments among other things. Teachers must prepare lesson plans, tests, and quizzes for upcoming courses, so they even work while they are at home.
Binay and Prosper both concurred that teachers in Ghana are required to work in appalling conditions and do not receive the respect they merit for the crucial work they perform.
Ghana must apologise to teachers for the appalling manner the country has treated them, insisted Tuomi, a passionate caller and local teacher.
Tuomi declared, "Teachers are slaves to the Ghanaian community."