In a speech that stirred reflection and resolve, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Hon. Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has charged the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to transition from a traditional trade union into a forward-looking partner in shaping 21st-century education reform.
Addressing hundreds of educators gathered at the 7th Quadrennial (54th) Regional Delegates’ Conference of GNAT at the Kibi College of Education on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Dr. Agyemang outlined four bold proposals to reposition GNAT as a central driver in national educational policy and professional standards.
“GNAT is not merely a union. It is a movement. A heritage of resilience, of collective voice, and of visionary protest,” he stated. “But now, as we face the demands of a new century, GNAT must once again evolve.”
The lawmaker’s proposals included:
- Curriculum Participation: He urged GNAT to secure a formal seat at decision-making tables where curricula are crafted, arguing that those who teach must help design what they deliver.
- Professional Development: He called on the association to lead in establishing a structured national framework for continuous teacher training, rewarding innovation and mentorship, not just seniority.
- Ethical Standards: Dr. Agyemang advocated for GNAT to adopt a Code of Honour to set high standards of ethics and conduct among its members, thereby strengthening public trust.
- Digital Training Rollout: He encouraged GNAT to take the lead in training teachers across Ghana in ICT and blended learning, enabling educators to adapt to digital teaching realities.
He cautioned that while GNAT must continue its role in advocating for better conditions of service, it must also become an active co-designer of Ghana’s education future.
“The union that does not simply ask what are our entitlements, but boldly asks what kind of teacher we must become—that is the union Ghana needs,” he asserted.
Dr. Agyemang’s remarks were met with applause from delegates, many of whom expressed optimism about a more proactive role for GNAT in shaping the next generation of education reforms.