Three teacher unions have taken exception to comments attributed to Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka concerning forged WASSCE certificates allegedly used by some security service recruits.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Graduate Association of Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) have jointly condemned the comments and called on the Minister to retract his remarks and apologise to teachers.
The joint statement was signed by Thomas T. Musah, General Secretary of GNAT; Jacob Anaba, President of NAGRAT; and King Ali Awudu, President of PRETAG.
The unions said their attention was drawn to remarks reportedly made by Mr Muntaka on September 9 during the opening of classroom facilities at Asokore Mampong Roman Catholic School in the Ashanti Region.
They said the Minister spoke about the dismissal and blacklisting of several security service recruits who had allegedly used forged or doctored WASSCE results.
According to the unions, however, Muntaka suggested that responsibility for the falsification should have been attributed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and teachers rather than the security services.
The unions strongly rejected the suggestion, describing the remarks as unacceptable.
“The Teacher Unions and the entire Teaching Profession condemn in no uncertain terms the unfortunate, offensive, misguided, vicious, derogatory, and irresponsible statement coming from a Minister who is expected to know better,” they said.
They particularly objected to what they described as the attribution of forged and doctored WASSCE certificates to teachers and the GES, arguing that such comments unfairly damage the reputation of the teaching profession.
The unions explained that entry into the GES requires applicants to meet specific academic and professional requirements, including relevant educational qualifications, completion of National Service and possession of a valid National Teaching Council teaching licence.
They added that applicants are required to submit academic certificates and other supporting documents, which are subjected to checks and audits at the institutions that awarded the certificates.
“It is therefore unfortunate that Hon. Muntaka is accusing and attributing forged and doctored WASSCE Certificates to the GES, Teachers,” they stated.
The unions also said they would not allow teachers to be made scapegoats over the issue.
“Let us make it clear to Hon. Muntaka that the Teacher Unions would not sit unconcerned for its members to be taken to the cleaners by mere positions of responsibility,” they said.
They called on the public to recognise the contribution of teachers to society, adding, “IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER! TEACHERS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AND NOT DENIGRATED.”
The unions further said they were “fed up with these scapegoating and blame games on our teachers” and called on the Interior Minister to take steps to resolve the matter.
“We hereby urge Hon. Muntaka, the benefit of hindsight to do the needful by retracting and apologizing to Teachers,” the statement said.
