Private school teachers salaries must not be peanuts in 2021

The days when private school teachers are paid very low salaries are over. As schools get ready to reopen, owners of such schools must be ready and willing to pay good salaries that bring dignity to the private school teacher.

Private school teachers are very hardworking and must be well paid and motivated to continue to put in their best. Teachers in private schools must know their worth and demand better conditions of service from their employers.

Proprietors and proprietress who take advantage of their teachers and pay them between GHS200 and GHS400 a month must bow their heads in shame for failing to pay teachers some form of remuneration during the covid-19 period to help these teachers keep body and soul together.

With the government giving the green light for schools to reopen from January 15, 2020, better conditions of service, better remuneration, and teacher welfare must be given serious attention by private schools.

It is very disheartening to know that in schools where a child pays not less than GHS1000 as fees, teaches are paid as low as GHS500 a month.

How can you pay a private school teacher with not less than 30/40/50 students or pupils in the class GHS400, GHS500 as salary?

In other schools, such salaries may delay and be paid in the next month. Where genuine financial reasons exist to explain this, communicating to staff in the appropriate manner is key to ensuring teacher agitations are dealt with.

The simple advice to private school teachers about being paid peanuts in the name of salaries is this.

If you are offered a salary that you think is not good or does not meet your work output, qualification, and input, just reject it and look for another job. A gun is not put to your head to accept the offer. Do not go through bitter experiences when COVID-19 hit us all, low incomes like the ones paid by most private schools prevent teachers from investing in themselves and achieving financial freedom.

Parents whose wards attend private schools must also be responsible and pay their ward’s fees on time to ensure the schools have the needed financial resources to meet their monthly financial obligations towards teachers, government, and other state institutions such as SSNIT.

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Teachers must be smart and plan their expenses. Teachers in private schools are encouraged to save at least 20% of their monthly incomes in savings accounts.

You are challenged to save for the future, upgrade yourself, and exit the private school environment. Build an effective saving and investment culture.

Always lookout for opportunities in other schools. The days of spending your whole life working in one private school which continues to disrespect your commitment to service by paying you very low salaries are over.

WASSCE graduates who may be entering the teaching field in private schools must also ensure, they are paid good income so that they can save towards their future and education. Any salary you receive as a WASSCE graduate while teaching in a private school should be spent wisely. Save towards your future and should in case your employer is not paying you well, think outside the box and move on.

Source: GhanaEducation.org