The National Council of Private Teachers has issued a stern warning to the government, threatening to boycott the 2024 general elections unless pressing issues in the educational sector are addressed.
The Council is voicing frustration over numerous challenges faced by private teachers, including excessive taxation on private schools and the exclusion of these institutions from the government’s STEM education initiatives.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi News, the Executive Director of the National Council of Private Teachers, James Kwame Ackon, expressed the Council’s grievances.
He pointed out that the heavy tax burden on private schools is making it difficult for school owners to adequately compensate their staff. Mr. Ackon also criticized the government’s lack of support for private school graduates, who face unemployment despite investing heavily in their education.
“What we are saying is that there are many taxes in private schools to the extent that private school owners cannot even pay their teachers or workers well.”
Mr. Ackon questioned the value of participating in the upcoming elections, stating, “look at the amount of money they pay from level 100 to level 400 and at the end of the day, they will be compelled to sit for licensure examination, pay 550 together with indexes, and expect us to vote for them to come into power.
“What benefits are we going to get from voting? When I am a graduate with my certificate, my license, my national service, and I am not employed.”
The Council’s ultimatum reflects growing discontent within the private education sector and signals potential political ramifications if their demands are not met.
