A group of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) service providers has reportedly petitioned the Office of the President, alleging that staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES) are failing to utilize the CPD allowance allocated to them for professional workshops.
According to these providers, the CPD allowance—which was introduced to support the professional growth of teaching staff—is not being used as intended. They claim that a significant number of GES employees have opted not to participate in CPD workshops, thereby sidestepping the services offered by the accredited providers.
In response, Ghana’s major teacher unions—GNAT, NAGRAT, and CCT-Gh—have issued a strong rebuttal. The unions condemned the actions of the CPD providers, describing the move as a “gross disrespect” to professional teachers. They emphasized that the CPD allowance belongs to the teachers and should be used at their own discretion, based on their individual professional development needs.
The unions argued that teachers should not be compelled to channel their allowance to particular service providers, especially when there are other ways to engage in professional development. They stressed that participation in workshops organized by private entities must remain voluntary and not be mandated under any guise.
Furthermore, the unions cautioned the CPD providers against pressuring teachers through state institutions, reiterating their stance that professional autonomy must be respected. The unions called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to intervene and clarify the purpose of the CPD allowance to avoid further confusion and discontent.
The situation has stirred debate within the education sector, raising questions about the regulation and oversight of CPD activities, and the roles of various stakeholders in the professional development of educators in Ghana.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
