Allocate More Resources Towards Capacity Building Of Teachers –RISE Ghana Advocates

Awal Ahmed

Bolgatanga based non-governmental organisation, RISE-Ghana– has urged government, the private sector and donors to increase the allocation of resources towards building the capacity of teachers to enable them deliver effectively and efficiently.

According to RISE-Ghana, taking such a step would enable teachers to deliver on their mandate and contribute to prevent the alarming incidence of early child or forced marriage in the country.

A press release issued to the media including Savannahnews on the occasion of World Teachers Day, RISE-Ghana saluted all teachers for the hard work, patience and affection they give to children in schools.

“We appreciate the time they (teachers) spend to build up a strong and sustainable society in our country”, Project Manager of RISE Ghana Awal Ahmed indicated, but chastised teachers who take undue advantage of the vulnerability of children under their care and abuse them sexually.

“In recent times, we have been saddened by news of some teachers abusing young girls in rural areas and calling it “bush allowance”. These few deviants must be made to face the full rigors of the law so as to deter others from engaging in similar acts”, he charged.

Ghana, according to the non-governmental organisation, has one of the highest childhood marriage prevalence in the world, with 25 percent of girls marrying before age 18. The Upper East Region sadly has the highest prevalence rate of 50 percent.

Mr. Ahmed observed that, there was a clear link between education, poverty and child marriage, noting that the prevalence rate was highest among girls who lived in rural areas, had a low educational level and came from low income households. “Girls in rural areas are three times more likely to be married before they are 18 years old than girls who live in urban areas”, he emphasised.

He called for more responsiveness and accountability from all stakeholders to empower teachers and to build sustainable societies by giving girls and teachers the needed education to end early child or forced marriage.

Meanwhile, On October 5, 1966, the Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers in Paris, France, was closed and the "Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers" was signed by representatives of UNESCO and International Labour Organization. On October 12, 1997, the 29th session of UNESCO's General Conference was opened. During this conference, on November 11, 1997, the "Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel" was adopted.

On October 5, 1994, the first World Teachers' Day was held. This event has been organized on the same date each year since then. 

The United Nations' (UN) World Teachers' Day celebrates the role teachers play in providing quality education at all levels. This enables children and adults of all ages to learn to take part in and contribute to their local community and global society.