President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Reverend Isaac Owusu, says his recent comments about teacher-student relationships have been misunderstood.Ghana travel guide
His clarification comes after Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu described his earlier comments as “inappropriate” and said they could be seen as promoting sexual harassment.Reverend Owusu had advised teachers to avoid romantic relationships with students and instead consider relationships with fellow adults.
The Minister, speaking at the commissioning of the Dr. Leonard Kaledzi Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence Education at Anloga on Tuesday, October 7 noted that “We will punish any teacher found in any compromising act with a female student because it does not guarantee safety and learning in the environment.
“So, the words of the GNAT President, who advised that male teachers who want to have sexual relations can do it with female teachers — I am reminding him that even that will constitute sexual harassment as it goes against the teaching code of conduct.”
But the GNAT President in an interview with Citi News on Wednesday, October 8, stressed that he did not endorse sexual misconduct in schools and has never encouraged workplace sexual harassment, adding that his comments were taken out of context.
“I’m not saying teachers should go and have sex with their female colleagues at work,” he said. “What I mean is, if you are an adult and want a relationship that could lead to marriage, find a fellow adult. How will I, as a union leader, encourage sexual harassment?”
He added that GNAT fully condemns any form of sexual misconduct in schools.
Reverend Owusu also questioned whether workplace relationships between adult colleagues are against the Ghana Education Service (GES) rules.Ghana travel guide
“GES does not stop people from marrying. What they don’t allow is for two married people to work in the same school because it may affect their work. But they don’t discourage teachers from finding legitimate partners,” he said.
Source: CitiNewsroom
