Two trade unions; Innovative Teachers Union (ITU) and All Teachers Alliance Ghana (ATAG) have immensely expressed their dissatisfaction with regards to the ‘1T1L’ initiative which saw the procurement of ‘Techers’ Mate ‘1 (TM1) Laptop for teachers.
This was revealed in a joint press statement by both unions on the 15th of November, 2021. ITU and ATAG mentioned that they have closely monitored the 1T1L initiative and have made enquiries regarding the company tasked to produce the laptop and the type of brand and concluded that teachers deserved better.
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Both Unions assert to the fact that teachers need to be provided with laptops as part of government’s responsibility in accordance with Section 9(a) of the Labour Law (Act 651).
However, both unions stated that they vehemently oppose the thirty percent (30%) and the seventy percent (70%) cost sharing idea of paying for the laptop because it is the responsibility of the employer to provide the tools needed by tachers to work.
Both unions were concerned about the poor planning and decision making that was involved in the TM1 Laptop procurement because the President quoted 280,000 laptops for teachers while the Vice-President quoted 350,000 laptops during the launch of the program.
It also stated that he difference in price of the Laptop has also been a major concern to teachers. GES stated in their press release on 9th September, 2021 that the full cost of the laptop was Ghc1,831.47 with the thirty percent allocated for teachers to pay amounting to Ghc549.44. Another GES letter dated 26th October, 2021 quoted Ghc509.00 as the price to be deducted from teachers; CPD Allowance.
“Teachers prefer Dell, Lenovo, Apple, Toshiba, Acer, Samsung and the other known brands just like Parliamentarians love TOYOTA V8 cars.” the press release mentioned.
The letter also stated that the company tasked to produce the TM1 Laptops, K.A Technologies Ghana, has not been registered by the Registrar General Department and has no records with the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA). This meant that K.A Technologies Ghana has not applied to GSA for certification or quality evaluation of its laptop.
Read full press statement, ITU and ATAG Press Statement.
