For some time now, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has been organising seminars and workshops to raise the level of affiliation and professional consciousness. Apparently the various GNAT educational programmes (e.g. study-cycle, seminars/workshops for elected officers, GNAT/Canadian teachers’ federation programmes) have still not produced the optimum results.
It appears that a small affiliates’ percentage participated in the above-listed activities and actually benefited from their affiliation, while the majority still claimed their ignorance about GNAT activities and programs.
In the 2009 GNAT Membership Satisfaction Survey carried out by the GNAT Research Department, the following startling indicators were unveiled:
Out of 1,000 respondents throughout Ghana,
1. 70% of respondents fell between the age group of 19 and 40 years;
2. 30% fell between the age group of 41 and 60 years;
3. 50.4% have never participated in any activity organized by GNAT; and
4. for most teachers their GNAT membership manifests itself solely payment of dues through the check-off system and nothing else.
GNAT Youth Policy
Reacting on the above-mentioned survey, the 2010 National Delegates Conference of GNAT decided that a Youth Policy should be developed to address the concerns of the 70% youthful members of the trade union. Consequently, the National Executive Committee supervised the formulation of GNAT Youth Policy. A series of education and awareness-raising activities were carried out throughout Ghana’s all four corners. This policy was formally endorsed at the latest Annual National Council meeting of GNAT, held in August 2012.
The purpose of the policy is to integrate young teachers within the GNAT formal structures, improving the situation of young teachers within GNAT. It provides a framework and practical guidelines for national, regional, district and local programs general towards improving the situation of young teachers in Ghana.
It further covers five youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas.
Priority areas
The five key areas of the GNAT Youth Policy are the following: professional needs; economic and welfare facilities; participation in union activities; career progression in the Education service; and GNAT’s involvement in national development issues and advocacy.
Issues such as health, the economy, the environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure activities will be addressed in activities designed in the plan of action. The intergenerational dialogue will be exploited to its maximum.
The plan of action subsequently focuses on particular measures to strengthen its young members’ capacities at national, regional, district and local levels. Such activities are intended to demonstrate GNAT’s commitment to various international conventions and charters affecting the youth, such as the International Public Services/International Trade Union Confederation/Global Unions Policy Direction on Young Workers.
Implementation of the youth policy
The National GNAT Youth Desk – The implementation of the Youth Policy Program – 2011, began with the creation and institutionalisation of the Youth Desk manned by a National Coordinator. This is also to recognise and strengthen the participation of the youthful members of GNAT, within the formal structures and systems of the organisation.
The National Youth Coordinator was appointed in April 2011. He was a former District Secretary of GNAT and is now responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating programs for the youth.
By Irene Duncan Adanusa, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and EI Vice-President
