The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to engage with stakeholders to restructure the academic calendar to suit students affected by the water spillage from the Akosombo Dam.
According to GNAT, the devastating floods have left over 300 teachers and several students displaced in both the Volta and Oti regions.
While visiting some victims of the flooding in Mepe in the Volta Region, the National President of GNAT, Reverend Isaac Owusu, stressed the need for immediate engagement to develop a plan to support both teachers and students.
“Luckily for us, we have been informed that the Minister of Education and the Director General are in town. So, we will not be reporting to them this time. They have seen it, so I believe that when they get to Accra, they will invite the key stakeholders, of which GNAT is one, to the table to discuss how best to restructure the academic calendar specifically for the people in this area. This is because they cannot be added to the normal school activities, as this will create an education emergency.
“…So, once the Minister of Education and the Director General of the Ghana Education Service are in town, we will be surprised if they do nothing and leave things as they are. So, we believe and trust that they will bring out a roadmap to ensure that we do not leave the victims behind,” he added.
The second-stage spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams has wreaked havoc on residents situated within the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region, where the Akosombo Dam is located, and in the North, Central, and South Tongu districts in the Volta Region.
Residents are still counting their losses as houses and structures for businesses are submerged.