Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has condemned remarks made by the President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, who suggested that male teachers should court single female teachers instead of preying on female students.
Rev. Owusu’s comments, which have since sparked public outrage, were made in response to recent reports of teacher-student sexual misconduct that led to the interdiction of several head teachers across the country.
Addressing teachers, Rev. Owusu had said: “The male teachers, we are pleading with you, if you want to do the thing, we have nice women and nice ladies who are single on our staff and in the community that we are working.”
On the back of this, the Education Minister has sharply criticised the statement, describing it as “unethical and unprofessional.”
According to him, such remarks undermine efforts to promote discipline and safety in schools.
“The president of GNAT sought to respond to the unethical conduct going on between teachers and learners. A teacher wanting to take advantage of a learner is unacceptable, and we will sanction any teacher found in any compromising situation. We want to guarantee the safety and security of the learning environment,” the Minister said.
He further cautioned that even romantic advances toward colleagues could constitute sexual harassment within a professional environment.
“In the words of the GNAT President, Rev. Isaac, he said, if you want to do the thing, do it with female teachers. I’m reminding him that even that will constitute sexual harassment in your working environment. That’s also not acceptable. If you want to do it, do it far away and with persons of age,” he stressed.
Mr Iddrisu reiterated that the government remains committed to upholding ethical standards and professionalism in education, warning that any teacher found engaging in sexual misconduct, whether with students or colleagues, would face strict sanctions.
“There are teachers who are married within that environment. It is unethical, unacceptable, and unprofessional. Such conduct compromises our standards and the provision of quality, sustainable education,” he added.
SOURCE: Prince Adu-Owusu
