Teachers to be sanctioned for using unapproved textbooks | GNAT puts out demands

Teachers to be sanctioned for using unapproved textbooks | GNAT puts out demands

Teachers will be sanctioned for using unapproved books. The Director General of the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA) made the disclosure.

The Director General of NaCCA, Prof. Edward Appiah, disclosed how the institution gets teachers and schools to be sanctioned. He disclosed this on TV3 after 10 pm Friday, 26th May 2023. The program was to discuss unapproved textbooks on the market for students to use. And how teachers could be sanctioned for using unapproved textbooks.

The latest uproar over an unapproved book

There has been a public debate over a history textbook. The book illustrated certain debatable content that was considered unpalatable. Additionally, stakeholders were concerned about the age of the students who were introduced to the content. The title of the book is ‘History of Ghana for basic schools B4’. The book is authored by Mr. Francis Benjamin Appiah and his partner.

The anger over the history book is the points stated under negative consequences of ‘Christian missionaries’. The book claims Christianity is responsible for conflicts based on religious indoctrination. Additionally, Christianity made people timid and poor. Also, Christianity increases discrimination against women and it creates an avenue for charlatans to pose as men of God. Finally, politicians use religion as a divisional tool.

Stakeholders demand publishers, schools and teachers should be sanctioned for using the unapproved textbooks.

Monday meeting

NaCCA boss has informed the public that they will be meeting the publishers of the book on Monday, 29th May 2023. The meeting is meant to unravel how the said book found its way onto the market. This is because the book in question has not been approved by NaCCA.

See also: Anger over B4 history book in Ghana: Debatable 6 negative effects of religion

Approval process

According to Prof. Edward Appiah, the approval process for books is very stringent. He said there are three assessors for every book. These assessors review any book for corrections.

Books are only approved after the reviews are addressed appropriately.

Unapproved books on the market

The Director of NaCCA agreed that some unapproved books are on the market. This is because NaCCA does not have the mandate and ability to detect the books on their own.

He disclosed anyone can publish a book in any corner and put it on the market. Besides, NaCCA does not have the mandate to visit accredited publishing houses. He, therefore, believe schools and teachers must be sanctioned for using unapproved textbooks

NaCCA is helpless and requests support

NaCCA can only get to know about unapproved books when they are reported. A report from the general public especially teachers, headteachers, proprietors, and parents.

NaCCA is therefore appealing to stakeholders to report any suspicious book they find. This is because it will virtually be impossible for NaCCA to detect all unapproved textbooks on the market.

GNAT position

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has a different position. GNAT believes that the publishing of books should be contracted to subject teachers. There are associations of subject teachers. The general secretary of GNAT advocates that subject teachers must be funded to produce accredited books.

Thomas Musah believes the huge money spent on importing books can be used to support the teachers to produce the books.

How teachers will be sanctioned for using unapproved textbooks

Prof. Edward Appiah has indicated that teachers and schools that use unapproved books are sanctioned. He said such teachers and schools are reported to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for action. Ghana Education Service (GES) applies the appropriate sanction against such schools and teachers.

NaCCA boss hinted that the practice is more prevalent in private schools. Therefore parents and major stakeholders are encouraged to help identify such books for appropriate action to be taken. He mentioned that he just returned from the Western North on a monitory tour.

The NaCCA boss was however not able to state the nature of the sanction for using unapproved textbooks