Upper East Region – Reverend Simon Asige, a retired educationist, has launched a vehement critique against teacher unions, accusing them of prioritizing their own conditions of service over the welfare of students. Speaking on A1 Radio, Rev. Asige expressed deep concern over the unions’ practices, arguing that they often use students as leverage in negotiations with the government.
Rev. Asige lamented the negative impact of this approach on students’ learning experiences, calling for an urgent reassessment of priorities within the education sector. He stressed that the unions’ persistent focus on their demands, with little regard for students’ educational welfare, ultimately disenfranchises learners and undermines the quality of education.
His remarks are particularly significant in light of the recently released Legatum Prosperity Index 2023, which ranked Ghana’s second-cycle institutions at a worrying 137th out of 167 countries. According to Rev. Asige, this ranking underscores the urgent need for reform and improvement in the education sector to enhance overall educational quality and student outcomes.
Rev. Asige advocated for a shift towards a more student-centered approach, where the well-being and educational needs of students are prioritized in decision-making processes. He urged teacher unions to adopt a holistic perspective, considering the long-term implications of their actions on students’ academic development and future prospects.
Emphasizing the importance of creating a conducive learning environment, Rev. Asige called for efforts to prioritize the holistic growth and well-being of students over narrow self-interests.
Credit: A1Radioonline
