Teaching at the senior high school level in Ghana gives teachers the unique opportunity to guide students on the verge of becoming adults. There are however some disadvantages associated with teaching at the secondary school level in Ghana. These disadvantages worry most teachers at the SHS level.
Let’s look at some disadvantages of teaching at the senior high school in Ghana.
1. No income from Studies Fee
Teachers in senior high schools do not receive any studies fee income from students. Studies fee income used to be an income for SHS teachers before it got scrapped by the government. It has however been replaced with Intervention. This is paid at the beginning of each year. The income from this intervention is quite small as compared to what teachers at the basic school level get from studies fee.
2. Additional duties such as supervising evening preps. Teachers need to stay on campus even after school hours to supervise students during prep hours or at the dining hall.
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3. Not enough vacation for teachers in double track schools.
It’s quite unfortunate that some teachers at the SHS level only go on break in December. After the introduction of the double track system, some teachers who teach at all levels(SHS 1, 2 and 3) need to be in school at all times. They get no rest.
4. You must go to school even if you don’t have a lesson.
GES believes that teachers can use that period to prepare their lesson notes, or mark exams scripts or take part of any other extra curricular activity. Staying at home is not an option.
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5. Not enough time to do your masters for teachers in double track schools
Since there are no enough rest for teachers in these schools, furthering your education will be a problem since there is no break. They only time to do this program is during weekends.
6. Vacation Gifts
Teachers at the senior high school do not receive any gift from their students during vacation. Teachers at the basic school level do receive gifts from their pupils at the end of every term. It’s very difficult to see a basic school teacher spend money to buy soap because that’s the number one gift they receive from their pupils.
Here are some advantages of teaching at the SHS level.
1. Intervention
2. Allowance for form masters, house masters, senior house masters/mistresses, Counsellors, Physical education teachers. Teachers with specific positions are given extra amount of money. This is added to their monthly salary automatically.
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3. PTA motivation fees.
4. Long vacation which helps you to do your business(Single Track Schools)..
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5. Free breakfast and lunch(not all schools enjoy this offer)
6. Maturity of students
High schoolers can learn with a certain level of autonomy. This gives teachers the ability to focus on guiding students toward their own learning discoveries. Older students also develop stronger critical thinking skills to investigate topics in more depth. This kind of student interaction is ideal for teachers who enjoy planning high-level content with room for discussion and debate