Members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) have threatened to lay down their tools effective September 1, 2019, should the Ghana Education Service fail to halt monthly deductions of GHc10 from their salaries.
The Ghana Education Service introduced an insurance policy which has become unpopular with many teachers.
This move has since been opposed by the various teacher unions.
The leadership of NAGRAT at a press conference on Wednesday said the compulsory deduction of the premiums is an attempt by GES to bully them.
The president of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu at the press conference asked GES to refund all deductions to the affected teachers.
The GES-SICLife policy is a government initiative introduced last year for GES workers, especially teachers, and it covers life, permanent disability and critical illness.
Under the policy, between GH¢9,000 and GH¢18,000 will be paid out to a member who suffers critical illness, including cancers, heart attack, kidney failure, loss of sight, stroke and permanent disability sustained as a result of an accident or an illness.
However, deductions of GH¢10 each made from the salaries of all GES workers, apparently without their consent, in June 2018 led to agitations which forced the suspension of the scheme.
Subsequently, a lot of teachers opted out and their monies were refunded to them with an assurance from the GES that sensitization would be done to implement the policy in April this year.
He noted that the move was a sign of gross disrespect for teachers and cautioned the GES to put the policy on hold with immediate effect.
Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiFm