Withdrawal of teacher trainee allowance won’t affect continuing students – Ablakwa

Deputy Minister for Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says continuing students at the Colleges of Education are not affected by the decision to withdraw allowances paid to teacher trainees.

Mr. Ablakwa therefore described as factually inaccurate, the claim that the policy has been scrapped.

His comment is in response to the threat by teacher trainees in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions to wear red arm armbands from Monday, to protest the decision to withdraw the allowance which they say is their source of survival on campus.

“The Teacher Trainee allowance is the only reason why teachers allow themselves to be bonded which always sentence them to living in the remotest and deprived corners of the country,” Sector president, Asanzero John Abotisun told journalists.

The Leadership of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG), is also asking trainees in both regions to boycott classes on Tuesday until government gives them a listening ear.

But speaking to Joy News, Mr. Ablakwa said withdrawal of the policy is not applicable to continuing students but to those who have been newly admitted to the Colleges of Education this year.

“The policy has not been scrapped, continuing students will still be receiving their allowances until they graduate,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.

He said the quota system which had been in existence for almost three decades, has become inimical to the progress of teacher education hence the decision to remove it.

He said government has increased the allocation for the Students Loan Trust “so that they will have enough to support the teacher trainees” who require financial assistance.

GNA