Kassena-Nankana West District Director of Education refutes allegation

 The Kassena-Nankana West District Director of Education, Augustine Bugase has described as false allegations circulating in some section of the media that some category of teachers numbering 35 in the district has been denied their salaries for the past 17 months. He said as far as he is concerned teachers working within his jurisdiction including pupil teachers have been paid their entitlements as directed by management at the GES headquarters. Mr Bugase told Radio Ghana in Bolgatanga that not a single teacher has approached him to lodge any formal complaint even though there might be some iota of truth as speculation in the media because it is a nationwide problem affecting almost all the districts. The challenge, he noted, affects the delivery of effective teaching and learning since motivation plays a critical role in education. He stated that teachers in his district are being paid their salaries and debunk media reports indicating that efforts at getting the GES to pay teachers their monies for the service rendered had proven futile. He said ‘even if there are any group of people that are aggrieved and have any genuine case with regards to payment of salaries, such persons have the constitutional right to complaint but they have to pass through the right channel for redress’. On the issue of pupil teachers, Mr Bugase said payment of salaries due them is often processed per the directive from the GES headquarters. This, he further explained is done after their documents have been imputed and issued their appointment letters.  Payments are subsequently made from GES headquarters sometimes with arrears paid to deserving teachers. Mr Bugase said his outfit is particularly concerned about the plight of teachers in the district and would leave no stone unturned to attend to their pressing needs. The district education directorate, he moreover said have for the past years made frantic effort in ensuring that teachers get paid to enable them continue teaching the children assigned to them. He however implored all categories of teachers to approach him on any default. This way, issues could be addressed at the district level rather than resorting to the other parties for redress.

GBC                                                            END                                                              IA/