‘Trainee teachers doing national service is backed by law’

The National Service Secretariat (NSS) is calling on the public to disregard comments and insinuations from some quarters seeking to downplay the relevance of trainee teachers performing their national service duty.

According to the Secretariat, the inclusion of trainee teachers was a decision backed by law, and hence, would not sit aloof for anyone to disregard the law.

It indicated that the NSS Act 426 of 1980 stipulates that all qualified and eligible graduates’ teachers are offered a one-year national service in fulfillment of the act.

The comments from the Secretariat stem from recent comments and positions taken by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), regarding teacher trainees and the scheme.

It would be recalled that the NDC has, for the past weeks, hammered on the decision to scrap the national service for the newly trained tertiary level teachers (graduates) from the colleges of education when it assumes power.

However, the management of the scheme has said in a statement that there was a legal basis for the inclusion of the trainee teachers in the scheme, and called on the public to disregard the ranting of the NDC.

The letter also stated that aside the policy having a legal basis, national service presents enormous benefits for the welfare of teachers in the present and future, spanning from employability, obtaining of visas, undertaking a post graduate education to occupying a public office.

Throwing light on these benefits, the statement said that teachers who have the intention of changing jobs in the near future may not be able to obtain employment outside the scheme, according to the Act.

The GNSS ACT 426 of 1980 (clause 7: 1a-c, 2) states that any person who has not commenced and completed his/her period of National Service shall not obtain employment outside the Scheme, be employed by any other person outside the scheme, or be engaged in any employment outside the Scheme, whether self-employed or otherwise, without the prior permission, in writing, of the Board.

The Secretariat noted that there had been situations where trained teachers seeking to change careers had besieged the NSS office, asking to be given a national service certificate as a form of clearance that will enable them switch careers, since it is a requirement to obtaining a job as mentioned above. Therefore, this arrangement comes in to curb such situations and opens doors to new career opportunities for them.

Another benefit, according to the statement, was that foreign embassies acknowledge the National Service Certificate as a basic requirement for obtaining visas, and, therefore, request graduates to provide an NSS certificate as a proof of national service, because the scheme was a well-recognised and accepted programme.

It also observed that in order for one to access any form of post graduate/post diploma scholarship opportunity in Ghana or foreign countries, eligible Ghanaians must be able to provide proof of national service to be considered, and indicated that candidates without it stand a zero chance of qualifying.

Additionally, that national service is a necessary requirement for holding any public office in Ghana, including office of the President and Member of Parliament, the letter said.

The Secretariat intimated that was it a clear case of entrenched hatred for teachers, especially when the NDC has continuously demonstrated prejudice towards the teaching profession.

It said Mr John Dramani Mahama cancelled the teacher trainee allowance, which was the main source of livelihood for teacher trainees, with the excuse that the Colleges of Education (COG) were tertiary institutions and so could not continue taking allowances, and therefore, needed to take student loans.

The letter questioned how a person seeking power to rule a country could take such a position, which would have negative consequences on the welfare of teachers, and asked the public to take note and make better choices.

The management of the scheme also admonished persons who have risen in the dignified status of statesmen to exercise the cherished free speech provided in the constitution with the honesty and truthfulness necessary for the smooth and effective management and administration of the Scheme.

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