MINUTES OF THE 22ND ANNUAL DELEGATES
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
VENUE:
ENCHI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
DATE:
23RD - 26TH APRIL, 2017
THEME:
THE QUEST TO DEVELOP GHANA; THE NEED TO PRIORITIZE QUALITY TEACHER EDUCATION
ARRIVAL
All colleges
arrived on the grounds on the agreed date for the General Assembly with the
exception of Bia Lamplighter College of Education who arrived on 24th April,
2017.
1ST SITTING
The sitting
commenced at 7:49pm of which honourable Samuel Dapaah said a word of prayer.
The Acting Coordinator ratified all delegates present;
FOSCO: 10
delegates
ENCHICO: 10
delegates
WATICO: 10
delegates
OLA: 9
delegates
HOLICO: 10 delegates
BIA: 5
delegates
KOMENCO: 10
delegates
After the
ratification, the Acting Coordinator introduced the standing orders to the
house thereby introducing the Sector Executives one after the other.
WELCOME ADDRESS
The
President, Hon. Emmanuel Cosmos Korsah welcomed and congratulated all
honourable members for showing up to the General Assembly. He outlined the
agenda for the Assembly and emphasized the need for all members to come out
with cogent views to be used for the communiqué and resolution.
PRESENTATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The previous
minutes were presented to honourable members for their perusal by the
Secretary, Hon. Samuel Dapaah.
DELIBERATIONS
UTILITY BILL
The Chairman
informed the house that, the Ministry of Education invited the leadership of
TTAG on the utility bill. The chair stated emphatically that, the Minister for
Education told the leadership that the Principals have denied billing students
to pay utility fee. The minister again made it clear to the leadership that,
the government is responsible and no student is supposed to pay the utility
component on any bill.
The chair on
this agendum made it clear to the house that, we shall stick to our gun not to
pay for any utility bill since it is the responsibility of the government.
TTAG DUES
The Chair
pleaded with the S.R.C executives to try their utmost best to take the dues.
The Chair called the S.R.C. Presidents to tell the house on what they have done
so far about the TTAG dues.
WATICO SRC
President: Hon. Mensah Atta Jones said that, his people were not paying the school
fees because they were waiting for the feeding grant to be released. He added
that, he and his entourage would do their possible best to retrieve the dues as
soon as the feeding grant was refunded.
FOSCO SRC
President: Hon. Isaac Annan said same as what the Wiawso President mentioned to
the house.
ENCHICO SRC
President: Hon. Blay Emmanuel assured that his people had paid but it was just
left with their management to release the money to them and the money would be
brought intact.
OLA SRC
President: Hon. Salome Nkuyibor assured the house that by the end of the second
semester everything would be paid.
HOLICO SRC
President: Hon. Jacinta-Josiah Kwofie assured the house that they would also
settle everything.
KOMENCO SRC
President: Hon. Solomon Appiah Turkson said that, they had already paid the
dues in full and they were applauded for their effort in taking the money.
FEEDING GRANT ARREARS
Hon.
Franklin Owusu Boakye registered his disappointment about the issue on the
feeding grant; especially the delay in the disbursement of the feeding grant
which had caused level three hundreds a lot. He tasked TTAG to wake up and
fight for the cause of the feeding grant for trainees. The Chair assured him of
that.
Hon. Samuel
Dapaah suggested to the house that, the incumbent government should be given an
ultimatum to force the government in paying the feeding grant within a
particular time frame.
Hon. Gyesi Michael said that, their people had been
mounting pressure on them so we need to fight hard for the money to be released
as soon as possible.
Hon. Yvonne from
Holico suggested that, it would be more prudent if the leadership of TTAG would
come into the various colleges regularly to talk to their members. The Chair
reacted to the suggestion raised that, the SRC executives were also TTAG
executives at the local level and hence should see themselves capable to work
assiduously for the progress of TTAG at the local level.
An
honourable member from Watico suggested that, TTAG should come out and tell the
government to stop feeding us. Hon. Dapaah Samuel reacted to that by saying
that since the government was about restoring the allowance we needed not to do
that but could rather force our Principals not to bill us with the feeding fee
component.
The Chair
said that, we had to abolish the dining system in the various colleges thereby
giving room for students to feed themselves. Hon Roswitha added that the
feeding grant should be cancelled.
Hon.
Franklin Owusu Boakye Suggested that we should hit the street and match to the
district education offices to prove that we were serious.
Hon. Owusu
Afriyie Suggested that it was high time the colleges took the money straight
from the government than passing through a lot of channels before the money
gets to the various colleges. Hon. Abbey Shadrach responded by saying that, it
was good they did it that way for safety
reasons so as no amount of the money would go elsewhere.
Hon. Kwashie Stephen suggested that, the only
remedy to our problem was to demonstrate. The Chair added that his major worry
was OLA and Holy Child since they always draw back when we take a collective
decision in terms of demonstration.
Hon. Agongo
A. John-Bosco was of the view that, there was a resolution in last year’s
Congress at Tamale that no student should pay feeding fee and every college complied,
so it worked. Hence he charged everyone to be ready for demonstration as a
collective decision.
Hon. Yvonne
from Holico suggested that, we should also use mobile phones as a means to
champion the cause of Teacher Trainees. She gave further explanations that,
through Whatsapp, directives can be given from leaders as to what trainees
should do, citing the feeding grant as an example.
Hon. Anful
Maxwell suggested that, rules should be set so that any college who fails to
comply with any demonstration action will be penalised by the association.
Hon. Jones
Atta Mensah moved at 11:45pm for the meeting to be adjourned to the next day
and was seconded by Hon. Esther Acheampong.
2ND SITTING
We started the second sitting by continuing on
the feeding grant
Hon. Martin
Luther Gyabaah came out with the view that, the termination of the feeding
grant would not be possible. He added by saying that even the college wiring
did not support using high electrical gadgets. He suggested that the only way
trainees can fight for was to put pressure on the principals not to infuse the
feeding grant on the bills.
Hon Jeffery
passed on the information, he had heard from sources, the government wanted to
turn colleges into tertiary institutions buttressing on the point that the
dining system in the colleges should be abolished.
Hon. Stephen
Kwashie suggested that it was possible to use cooking gadgets without electricity
and that would enable them to abolish the feeding from the colleges.
Affairs to
be dealt with :
- Demonstration
- Circulation of messages
- Abolishing the feeding in colleges
These items
were vetted on and one was selected
Elections on
the three affairs
- Demonstration 23 votes
- Circulating of messages 2 votes
- Abolishing the feeding in colleges 26 votes
However the
passive voters were asked by the President to state their reasons for not
voting. One of them responded by saying that, abolishing the feeding would
disturb students since some would not perform well in their academics.
Moreover, SRC Presidents should really convince the college authorities so that
they work on our feeding grants.
Hon. Salome
said that, OLA College did not have any problem on feeding since the students
were fed all the time.
Hon. Gifty
Balbale said that, regardless of your college being fed or not, all hands must
come on board and go for demonstration.
RESTORATION OF ALLOWANCE
The Chair
stated that, the principals had deliberations with the government to discuss
about the allowances and the deductions to be made before it gets to trainees.
He said that, they wanted to deduct the utility bill, feeding fee and school
fees from source. However, the initial pronouncement was that, trainees were
promised to receive the allowance back in March but did not see the light of
the day. Moreover, leadership of TTAG deliberated on the issue and went to the
Minister for Education for further talks to that effect. He said that, it was
very unfortunate PRINCOF forgot the amount trainees were taking before it was
scrapped off and of which the minister charged TTAG to present the actual
amount to the ministry within the shortest possible time.
Hon. Martin
Luther informed the house that, definitely the allowance would be restored but as
at the time to be restored was the condition to be looked at and for that
matter should not be a problem because there was hope.
Hon.
Christiana Addae suggested that, it would be better if TTAG executives together
with PRINCOF meet the Minister of Education.
Hon. Yvonne
also suggested that though efforts had been put in place but she felt trainees
should pray fervently so that all our needs would be granted.
Hon. John
Bosco suggested that TTAG leadership should be consistent in meeting the
government focusing on the point that, we played a role in bringing NPP to
power. He said there was no need for negotiations so the money should be paid
throughout the whole year.
Hon.
Franklin Owusu said that there should be more clarifications to show that
indeed trainees would know how much they were to receive.
Hon. Abbey Shadrach sadly said that, there was trouble at the
national level. Again, he said the Minister told the leadership that if they
were unable to maintain the money that was given, they would not reduce it. Hon.
Maxwell, PRO of Enchico added that TTAG needed to act. He stated that TTAG
should have a meeting with PRINCOF. He further suggested, a date should be set
as we await the allowance. If it does not happen, then a nationwide
demonstration.
Hon. Stephen Kwashie suggested that, the leadership of TTAG
should really fight the government such that the allowance would be paid in
full and should exceed eight months.
Hon. Martin Luther Gyabaah said that, so far as the
restoration of the allowance was on paper then it is being indeed restored just
that it had not taken effect. He again said trainees should not fight the
government but rather PRINCOF.
Hon. Emmanuel Blay was of the view that, TTAG should have a
strategic plan in fighting for trainees.
Hon. Delphina Bilobi Jentina said that, she thought PRINCOF
was hiding something from trainees so we should find a way of finding out that
thing in order to help us have solution to our problems.
The Vice President who was the chair drew the curtains down
on the issue of the allowance.
SETTING OF COMMITTEES
- Communiqué and Resolution – All Secretaries
- Finance and Auditing – All Financial Secretaries
- Women’s Commissioners – All Women’s Commissioners
- Strategic and Planning – All Presidents
Hon. Salome Nkuyibor
moved for the adjournment of the meeting to the next morning and it was
seconded by Hon. Sandra Arkoh Marfo at 1:24pm.
3RD SITTING (REPORT
READING)
The various SRC Presidents read their reports starting from
7:20pm to 12:55am and the Women’s Commissioners also presented theirs. Hon.
Theodora Theoson from OLA said a word of prayer and the meeting was closed.
4TH SITTING
The meeting started at 9:00pm and the next item on the agenda
was “Re-establishment and strengthening the relationship with stakeholders”.
The Chairperson opened the platform for deliberations.
Hon. Emmanuel Adusei suggested that a programme should be
organised with them so as to share ideas together. A rendezvous which involves
TTAG, PRINCOF, NCTE, NUGS and other stakeholders to help build a strong
relationship with them.
Hon. Bilobi Delphina Jentina came out with the view that past
executives can also assist to get our stakeholders.
Hon. Martin Luther Gyabaah said that in colleges of Education
we have three associations and they are TTAG, CETAG and PRINCOF. He added that
we should seek assistance from CETAG to help us fight for our causes.
Hon Samuel Dapaah stated that the focus should not be on
sector and national executives alone but the SRC’s should also come on board.
He suggested that the SRC’s should start from the grass root so that sector and
national executives take it from there.
An honourable member suggested that gifts and presents should
be given to them so that they will have the association at heart.
LEVEL THREE HUNDREDS OUT PROGRAMME ISSUES
The chair started by saying that the policies for third years
were unfavourable due to inconsistent changes. He threw light on the first
semester where trainees were given Thursdays and Fridays for cluster tutorials
with two subjects (Assessment and Research) and have now been denied cluster
tutorials for the second semester with three subjects (Statistics & Probability,Guidance
and Counselling and English Language). He therefore opened the platform for
further deliberations.
Hon. Bernard Kofi Ansah, said that there had not been any
directives on mentees teaching practice for the whole week and it was very bad.
The Chair reacted by saying, it might happen that UCC was not aware because
Komenco mentees taught from Monday to Wednesday.
Hon. John-Bosco said
that he was unhappy about the treatment third years were going through because
they were to pay GHC 250 for only three papers meanwhile others pay GHC 360 for
eight to ten papers which was a cheat.
Hon. Owusu Boakye Franklin came out with the view that the
leaders were not working. He added that the level three hundred students were
told initially to have five semesters on campus and all turned out to be a
mirage. He said that if that was the case then we needed to be awarded with
C.A.
Hon. Dapaah Samuel reacted to the C.A issue that, tutors were
not helping the level three hundreds at all because some of the tutors did not
conduct any quiz for their students and since they could not conjure marks for
students led to no C.A. He added that, all level three hundreds should charge
their tutors to conduct quizzes so that the association could take it from
there.
Hon. Martin Luther Gyabaah said that, the principals had 6%
share of the examination fees and would never support us in fighting for
reduction in any way. Hon. Abbey Shadrach added that, the leadership of TTAG
could not fight alone and it was the fight of all trainees.
Hon. P.R.O from Enchico suggested that, TTAG should get a
lawyer to assist the association on legal issues.
The deliberations came to a halt at 1:59pm and the electoral
commission took over from there.
Election (Mini Congress)
The coordinator aspirant in the person of Donkor Felix
delivered his manifesto and after the reading, questions were asked. The
sitting was adjourned by Hon. Donkor Felix and seconded by Hon. Martin Luther
Gyabaah.
LAST SITTING
The sitting started at 8:30pm and the platform was given to
the communiqué and resolution team by the chairperson.
After the reading, Hon. Oduro Yeboah advised that, they
should go and look into it again since it did not meet the standard of a
communiqué.
The Strategic and planning committee also presented their
reports highlighting on the following:
- That college names should be pasted on the door post as a sign of directives to the various SRC’s.
- They suggested in their report that, food served should vary for delegates to choose from what they like. Food should be delivered on time so that it does not eat into the time scheduled for meetings.
- That sensitisation should be done at least twice a year in order for the administration of the various colleges and students to be well versed with TTAG and erase all erroneous impressions trainees have conceived about the Association.
- They suggested that, the sector should provide a bus and build an office for the Association.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(AOB)
Hon. Jacinta Josiah-Kwofie asked about the land that TTAG
has. The Chair answered that, it is for TTAG National and Hon. Abbey added to
it by saying that, it was in a safe condition.
Hon. Gifty Balbale said that, she did not understand why
those who offer Early Childhood are made to teach in the Junior High Schools.
She again added that, TTAG should do something about it.
Hon. Daniel Frimpong suggested that, copies of the
Associations Constitution should be made available to the new members for them
to be accustomed with it.
Hon. Amartey Frank asked how come regular students are being sacked for
failing one or two papers meanwhile nothing of that sort happens to the
Untrained Teacher Diploma In Basic Education (UTTDBE). The Chair assured that
something would be done about it.
Hon. Anthony Dadzie was of the view that, copies of the
reports should be
given out for
thorough questions to be asked. Hon. Oduro Yeboah reacted by explaining to the
house that, reports were not supposed to be given out since they were
tentative.
Hon. Attah Mensah Jones opinionated that, two executives
should be made to attend the National General Assembly to reduce cost. Hon.
Oduro Yeboah reacted and made it clear to the house that, G. A should have been
three times a year but has been reduced to one due to financial challenges.
Hon. Eshun Patrick suggested that, the minutes should always
be read for the necessary corrections to be made. Hon Salome Nkuyigbor added by
saying that, minutes were indeed supposed to be read for thorough
deliberations.
Hon. Sabina Awortwe suggested that, women should be allowed
to play active role in the Association since they could at times push problems
forward for solutions.
DECLARATION OF ELECTION
RESULTS
The Electoral Commission declared the results of the election
conducted and Hon. Felix Donkor was declared winner. Hence he was sworn in by
the National Coordinator who was the acting Sector Coordinator.
The General Assembly came to a close at 10:32pm.
COMPILED BY: ENDORSED
BY:
DAPAAH SAMUEL EMMANUEL
COSMOS KORSAH
(SECRETARY) (PRESIDENT)
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