The ‘One Teacher, One Laptop’ (1T1L) initiative was launched on 3rd September, 2021 by His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia which sought to provide each teacher with ‘Teachers Mate 1’ TM1 Laptop.
This initiative was spearheaded by three teacher Unions (GNAT, NAGRAT and CCT) and was embraced by the Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education to equip teachers with the necessary ICT tools to facilitate teaching and learning.
This initiative is a laudable one since the world is leaning towards technology and teachers are one of the most important stakeholders to be abreast with current technological trends to aid learners to also equip themselves with Computing skills.
However, the initiative has met some backlash since it’s inception due to some pertinent reasons which has been raised by some concerned teachers and other Teacher Unions.
Most teachers have been skeptical about the brand and have deemed it inferior since it is an unknown brand. The laptop have also met different price tags by Ghana Education Service, NAGRAT and the Ministry of Education.
Also Read: Detailed Analysis of the TM1 Laptop Specifications
This prompted some probing into the procurement of the laptops for teachers by two teacher Unions; Innovative Teachers Union and All Teachers Alliance Ghana (ATAG).
These two Teacher Unions later sued four stakeholders involved in the Laptop procurement because their research showed that the company tasked to produce the Laptops, K.A TECHNOLOGIES GHANA, has no records and capability to produce the laptop.
Also Read: K.A Technologies: All you Need to Know about TM1 Laptop Manufacturers
Teachers TIER-2 Fund used to Pre-finance 1T1L Initiative
A letter by Ghana Education Service Occupational Pension Scheme (GESOPS) dated October 27, 2021 revealed information which showed that teachers have been exploited by Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education.
GESOPS is a Tier-2 pension scheme registered and regulated by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority under the Pensions Act, 2008, (Act 766) as amended. The Scheme’s membership is drawn from employeesof GES.
Tier-2 is mandatory contributory scheme with monthly contributions of 5% on the basic salary of all employees which is now being managed by GESOPS.
Also Read: GES Directs GESOPS to Create Separate Account to Receive Payment for TM1 Laptops
This Tier-2 being managed by GESOPS is deducted from every teachers salary with the aim of getting it as a lump sum when they go on retirement.
However, in the letter written by GESOPS which was signed by the Chairman, Nathaniel Otoo, it was revealed that the institution paid an amount which was used to pre-finance the production of the TM1 Laptop.
Bear in mind, this is the money deducted from teachers’ salary. Hence, teachers own money that is supposed to be in investment was used to finance the production of the TM1 Laptop.
In addition to that, government will deduct Ghc 509.00 (i.e. the 30% to be paid by teachers for the laptop) from teachers CPD Allowance when it is paid.
What this means is that, teachers Tier-2 pension money was used to provide funds to procure the TM1 Laptops for teachers and teachers are as a result going to buy the laptop again using their own CPD Allowance.
Clearly, stakeholders involved in the 1T1L have a lot to benefit from this initiative while the teacher in the classroom continues to lose.
This also seems to support the assertions of some concerned teachers that government didn’t pay any seventy percent (70%) quota and as such, teachers are bearing the full cost of the Laptop.
This unfortunately reveals how the Ghanaian teacher has been exploited by their leaders to the detriment of the teacher.
2 comments
Our leaders should sue government on this issue.
Aberinga who Said your leaders are not aware of this dubious deal gnat and nagrat are fully aware and are bed with government to cheat the teachers