Government urged to reconsider extending the retirement age for public sector workers

Government has been encouraged to as a matter of concern review and reconsider the retirement age of public workers by extending it from 60-65 so that workers who still remain strong and vibrant after their retirement would continue to share and impart their knowledge and experiences to the younger generations. Adherence to this call will also prevent workers from giving out wrong information about their age when registering with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo made the call during an inaugural ceremony of the Kassena-Nankana Retired Teachers Association (KANARETA) at Navrongo in the Upper East Region. Mr. Woyongo assured the retirees that government is working around the clock to better their lot since teachers play a significant role in development of the country’s human resource. He said government recognizing the enormous contribution teachers’ play in the socio-economic lives of the people is determined to improve the working environment and condition of teachers as a way of motivation. Mr. Woyongo said government intends to bring smile on the faces of teachers, hence their migration onto the Single Spine Pay Policy, which he said has been finalized for the Ghana Education Service. Mr. Woyongo was however not happy about the continuous fallen standard of education in the area and the region in general and called on teachers, parents as well as students to play their respective roles effectively to help address the situation before it gets out of hand. He therefore challenged members of the KANARETA to organize remedial classes for students who failed to gain admission into the various tertiary institutions due to poor grades and also offer consultancy services for heads of institutions and teachers that require their services. According to Mr. Woyongo plans are far afoot to constitute a team of expertise to establish an Education Endowment fund to take care of the brilliant but needy students in the region of which some retirees would be made to serve in the management of the fund. He also appealed to the retirees not to use the association to enrich themselves but rather use it to enhance the image of the teaching profession. The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Philip Agamba said the association was formed as a way of bringing on board retired teachers to deliberate on issues that border on education and also support each other in times of joy and difficulties. He said the association among other factors came into being considering the ordeal teachers go through after they finally retire from active service. Some section of the public he lamented even hold the perception that teachers are made worse off and die quickly after retirement due to poverty and frustration. The idea of establishing the association he explained is to disapprove the said notion. Mr. Agamba pledged to avail their services to the various communities, the District assembly and the GES so that their energies would be channeled to help improve the lot of the people they serve. He appealed to the Regional Minister and the district assembly to help provide funds to ensure the successful completion of the Teachers Resource Centre to help them prepare teaching materials for the schools in the area.