Teacher trainees across the various public colleges of education in Ghana are eagerly anticipating the release of their allowances by the government for the entire second semester of their just-ended academic year.
The government currently owes trainees four months’ worth of allowances, which have yet to be disbursed.
Information gathered by Coleman Publications reveals that there are a few developments regarding the amount trainees should expect to receive as their monthly allowance.
It should be noted that although the allowance is GH₵400.00, trainees do not receive this full amount on their E-Zwich cards.
SEE ALSO: TTAG Resolves to Double Trainees’ Allowance to Alleviate Financial Challenges
A portion is sent to their Principals (Colleges) for their feeding component. The feeding fee per trainee is GH₵8.00 daily, totaling GH₵240 for the month.
Additionally, GH₵7.00 is sent to TTAG National as dues, leaving trainees with GH₵153.00 sent to their E-Zwich cards.
However, a new development has emerged: PRINCOF has requested the government to increase the feeding component to GH₵9.50 instead of the previously known GH₵8.00.
This request has been confirmed by TTAG in their recent released communique and resolutions.
SEE ALSO: TTAG Appeals to GTEC and PRINCOF to Reassess 2024/2025 Academic Year Fees
This means that, out of the GH₵400, trainees will now receive (maybe less than) GH₵108.00 (400 – 9.5 x 30) on their E-Zwich cards.
However, TTAG has reported that trainees will be paid GH₵133.00 onto their E-zwich cards monthly. This amount per calculations doesn’t tally.
According to their communiqué, “Recent reductions in allowances due to the high prices of goods remain a great concern to Teacher Trainees. With the feeding component raised to GH₵10.00 daily, the Teacher Trainee allowance would be reduced to GH₵133.00 monthly.”
Now, considering that trainees are fed throughout the month, with 30 days of feeding, this would make the feeding component GH₵300, leaving only GH₵100 to be disbursed to trainees, right?
SEE ALSO: Alleged reasons for PRINCOF’s postponement of the reopening date for Colleges of Education
This means that there is something missing somewhere that TTAG must make known to their members as how they arrived at the GH₵ 133.00.
Trainees are urged to be aware that their allowances have been drastically reduced, and these ongoing discussions are contributing to the delay in the disbursement.
Stay tuned to Coleman Publications for further updates.