Before any person decides to take certain action(s), there would have been the need to assess the cost/benefits of such action(s). When this is done, there will also be the need to find convincing reason(s) (motivation) to carry out such action(s). Whenever we talk about students performance and the role of teachers of this country, there is the need to think in this respect too.
Once again, the tardiness with which the government and people of this nation are dealing with the problems and challenges within the educational system has been questioned. From what I am gathering, there is an urgent need to overhaul the system 'pronto' if this nation is to have a future. Over the past decade, I have witnessed a number of certificate teachers going to upgrade their qualifications to degree equivalents. The dichotomy of this situation (teachers upgrading themselves while students performance keeps plummeting) demands that we pay heed to the core motivation for such actions. Why are teachers upgrading themselves and why are students not benefiting from these upgrades?
BETTER WAGES/SALARIES
Firstly, the thought of better wages/salaries is enough a reason to encourage most people to upgrade themselves. For teachers, speculation of an introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) was the final signal/reason to do so. This is because the rumours that surrounded the introduction of the SSSS meant that those with higher qualifications were going to receive better salaries or wages (the truth is this statement is not of particular importance to this write-up). I am certain that a detailed research into this matter will reveal that the desire to live in comfort is of particular importance to 'these teachers' and the last thing on their mind is how to ensure that the students are performing well (this is not in any downplaying the importance some teachers associate with quality education). However, priority demands that they take care of themselves first before they cater for others (students).
JOB SECURITY
To continue, I will like to believe that job security rather than student performance is another reason why there has been a surge in teachers upgrading themselves. The challenge we face in these times demands that one first thinks of how to establish a regular cash flow. It is crucial and pertinent for survival in a nation where living standards are becoming more expensive and the need for wealth is placed so high on the 'must achieve list' that it is causing some to even kill (not that this is new). The elderly who have been in the profession fear that young graduates will take over their jobs and they might have to answer to them. The thought of reporting to persons old enough to be their sons and daughters is encouraging most them to go to school to cement their positions in their jobs. This can also be associated with the burden of taking care of, in most cases large family sizes.
Finally, to put the dichotomy into perspective, there is the need to understand the dilemma associated with seeking better wages and having a secured job in relation to working on how to better student performance in our schools. The former is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to realizing the latter. If our teachers do not have the pleasure of knowing in their hearts, beyond all reasonable doubts, that their job is good enough to let them live the Ghanaian dream, then our students will continue to be at the point of loss, in terms of knowledge and wisdom. Thus, the poor performance we are witnessing over and over again in the BECE and WASSCE examinations. It will not be far fetched to surmise that there is a positive correlation between teachers upgrading themselves and how it impacts on students performance, however, this feat can only be seen in the long term when "the personal aspect" with regards to the motivation mentioned above" have materialized. Until then, we can keep praying and hoping that teachers, out of the goodness of their hearts, will heed to the call to produce great minds who are capable of leading this great nation of ours to the paradise we crave for so much.
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