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Momodou
Denmark
11765 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 22:57:45
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Teacher Retention, Allowance is One Move in the Right Direction
EDUCATION INDEPT
with Janneh .S.Darboe
Sometime in December 2009, it was rumoured that teachers in The Gambia will receive an allowance called teacher retention allowance come January 2010 in order to motivate them to remain in the service. This undoubtedly had happened up to the end of April 2010 but the three months arrears are yet to be received, what happened or that’s all to benefit? a
Those who received April and May are thinking of their three months arrears, how about those who have not received a butut and what was responsible for this? The concerned personnel at the ministry should perhaps provide a better answer to clear people’s doubts concerning this matter. This is a serious administrative lapse which needs to be looked into amicably and professionally. It seems there is no proper or serious file or record keeping mechanism at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE), after four or five months some teachers cannot benefit from the allowance created for our deserving hardworking and patriotic teachers. This is indeed an unimaginable act from the MOBSE and calls for greater attention in the future.
Education is one of the biggest ministries in the country and responsible for the most sensitive issue of mankind (dissemination of knowledge). The plight of the teachers needs to be handled with care and urgency at all cost. To our greatest shock this had happened and there no need to cry over spilled milk but there are corrective measures that need to be applied immediately to remedy the problem and pay the ones who are not benefiting from the allowance and pay the arrears in the interest of fair play.
Gambian teachers are law abiding citizens and most of them are low income earners and highly indebted. As a result of this the ministry of education in collaboration with The Gambia government, came with an idea which is the right step in the right direction but there are some incentives that also need to be looked at in order to bring Gambian teachers closer to other civil servants.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Readers could recall that every year teachers all over the world celebrate 5th October as world teachers’ day. The last celebration was on the 5th October 2009 and the theme of the celebration was "Build in the Future Invest in Teachers Now". Teachers are indispensable partners in the socio economic development of any nation. They deal with the most sensitive resources (adolescents) vulnerable to many dangers. There is a need for such people to be given more financial incentives to focus their minds on quality delivery of knowledge. So many trained and qualified teachers left the teaching profession due to low income and proper social recognition.
The house rent and provincial allowances are far too small compared to the market conditions. Complaints have been made why teachers on double shift are taxed? It is extra hours that teachers work for as a result of the shortage of teachers in most schools. Other civil servants receive numerous allowances which are higher than what teachers receive but are not taxed and this needs redress.
Teachers suffer greatly before they receive their remunerations e.g. 1*6 loans, double shift allowance, etc. Teachers’ house rents and provincial allowances are not automatically paid, one has to follow the authorities several times before one gets get access to these and during the process children suffer because of absenteeism. Teachers in region two complain bitterly about their pay master who is becoming a thorn in their flesh and often uses unpleasant remarks to them.
TRAINING INCENTIVES
Before the coming of the University of The Gambia, few teachers got access to further training. Many teachers got their first degree from the university of The Gambia (BA, BED or BSC).However, most of these graduates have complained that the ministry is yet to elevate their status which is their motive of going in for further studies. The department responsible for this needs to consider those affected since they complained that some of their colleagues had already been promoted to grade eight of the government salary scale.
There are so many teachers who are now in the National Assembly and yet they do not come with any bill concerning the motivation of teachers in the Gambia. We cannot afford to neglect or look low upon teachers and the education sector as a whole. The light of the teachers enter every house and yet they are the under dogs. In the society if you are asked about your occupation and you say you are a teacher, you are not respected as the others. Is it not the teachers who educate a doctor, a scientist, a lawyer, a soldier, police, an engineer, a pilot, a journalist you name it? Let us join hands and promote the welfare of teachers across the country in order to effectively mould our future generation.
Then educate yourself and others in depth, read in depth, study in depth, contribute valuable points and clarify issues in depth and stay in depth.
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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