GES defends 10% teachers’ salary deductions for rent
The Ghana Education Service is still holding on to its stance on the 10% deduction from the salaries of teachers and other staff occupying government bungalows in Senior High Schools to serve as rent.
It defended its stance stating that the decision was based on the recommendations of the Public Account Committee of Parliament and also to curb audit queries from the Finance Ministry.
The plan to deduct the 10% which did not go down well with the teacher unions was brought up following a notice sent by the Western Regional Director of Education which further explained that the said deduction was part of the government’s efforts to minimize the anomalies with regards to payment of rent for staying in school bungalows.
“Management of GES fully endorses the letter issued by its Western Regional Director and wishes to request all cost centre managers to be guided by the said Ministry of Finance’s circular as valid and enforceable. This is necessary to avoid future queries and subsequent appearance before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the subsequent.”
“We wish to reiterate that it is not the GES which is imposing the rent or determining how much is to be paid but purely being guided by the Ministry of Finance’s circular and the admonitions of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament,” the statement said.
Already, teacher unions are up in arms against the directive arguing that the planned deduction is unfair to teachers, given the meagre salaries they receive for their services.
According to the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the move is needless, as the expected revenue from deductions will be minimal in supporting the government’s programmes.
With these issues, GES however says the unions will be engaged.
“Management of GES has taken note of the concerns raised by GNAT on behalf of the pre-tertiary education unions on this issue and will be meeting the leadership of the unions to discuss their concerns in the coming days.”
