Private school teachers eager to go back to school, public school teachers don’t

Private school teachers eager to go back to school, public school teachers don’t
Most of these teachers have got to survive COVID-19 without any financial support from the government after several efforts. On the other hand, some public school teachers are praying schools do not reopen in January.
Staying at home and drawing salaries has been an exciting experience for public school teachers in Ghana. A public school teacher, whose take-home pay is GHS2300, has enjoyed GHS23,000 of the taxpayers’ money from March – December 2020 without any work, yet some of them want to stay at home if offered the chance in January 2021.
Even as private school teachers and owners await the government’s decision on 30th December, there are public school teachers who will welcome the news if the government should decide not to reopen schools in January 2021. For them, their bellies are full, and would wish for more days at home to draw salaries for no work done.
Private schools that pay tax and other statutory payments were not spared the bitter experience of not receiving support from the government. Financial institutions were also reluctant to provide any assistance since the schools were closed down and they would not be able to pay back the credit facility even if they are provided.
Private schools to lose good teachers when school finally reopens in January 2021
Private schools to lose good teachers when school finally reopens in January 2021, although they want schools to reopen.
Some private school teachers have either learned a new trade, switched jobs or changed to do something rewarding with their lives to keep body and soul together.
Some of these teachers will not return to the classroom, especially if what they are doing with their lives are more profitable and enjoyable than teaching as a profession and in private schools for that matter.
In the wake of this unwillingness of the government to drop a penny to save these teachers since March 2020, one thing has been carved into the minds of those who directly faced the bitter choices of government.
Some private school teachers have gained employment in other sectors as factory workers, office staff whiles some are doing their own businesses haven acquired new skills.
READ: Becoming a university graduate teacher in Ghana is a self-imposed curse
This could mean that private schools will be losing some of their best teachers come January 2021.
A careful look at the current job portals in Ghana also paints and supporting picture as private schools started the recruitment of new teachers three months ago. This has picked up in December 2020 and may even shoot up when the reality hits the schools in January.
COVID-19 and the government of Ghana have not treated private school teachers and school owners fairly. The absolute neglect of these important stakeholders in the Ghanaian education sector has negative implications for teachers, and such schools should school be reopened in January 2020.
Was it a “deliberate” attempt by the government to “kill” the private school teacher, proprietors/proprietress, and pre-tertiary private school education in Ghana?
The rather sad situation created by the lack of will power on the part of the government to provide any support to private school teachers has gone down in history as a bitter experience; it also offered these teachers the chance to examine the need to move out of the already unrewarding teaching job.
Source: GhanaEducation.Org