NAGRAT “Disgusted” By Teachers’ Exclusion from Free SHS Bill Consultations

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) says they are disgusted by their exclusion in the formulation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill ready to be laid in Parliament.

They deem the action of the Minister for Education, Hon Yaw Adutwum, to be gross disrespect and disregard towards the teachers of this country.

“It is therefore unthinkable that the Ministry of Education will once more evince this gross disrespect and disregard towards the teachers of this country, by this haste in promulgating a law without the input of stakeholders.”

“We wish to express our disgust and grave concern over the lack of consultation of the bill… We hereby express our disappointment over the lack of any extensive stakeholder consultations and inputs on the impending supposed Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill, especially from the Teacher Unions whose Members are key in the implementation of the Free Senior High School programme.”

As a key stakeholder in the implementation of the Free Senior High School initiative by the government, the teachers believe they should been part of teams that were consulted in the Bill’s formulation.

Their contribution, he noted, would have gone a long way to right the wrongs in the policy and affirm the good therein.

“Aside from that, NAGRAT members and indeed all teachers, have sacrificed dearly, since the implementation of the Free SHS programme, without the commensurate regard and appreciation. The inconveniences that teachers have had to bear upon the implementation of the Free SHS programme have been enormous.”

They, therefore, want the government to suspend the laying of the bill in Parliament to make way for broader consultation.

Additionally, it has called on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to reject the bill.