The Ghana Education Service has stated that, henceforth, study leave with pay for teachers would only be approved for applicants in the first year in a tertiary institution.

In a circular signed by Benedicta Naana Biney, Deputy Director General of the GES to all regional Directors of Education stated that, the policy would forestall the problems associated with the granting of third and final year teachers with pay whilst on study leave.

It indicated that, approval of study leaves with pay for applicants in second, third and final years has generated a lot of controversy in recent times, and that, adequate measures had to be taken to ensure the effective operation of the system.

"It has come to the notice of the GES management that, myriads of challenges confront the processing of salaries of staff, who are unable to secure their study leave with pay approval in the first year of studies", the statement explained.

The GES staff, who wish to take advantage of the study leave with pay facility, the circular said, should secure their approvals only in the first year stressing, "no consideration will be given in the second, third or final years of study".

The circular therefore entreated all District Directors of Education to communicate the directives to all staff of the GES.

In another development, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw has observed that the practice of promoting teachers based on only long service does not motivate practicing teachers to up-date their skills. He, in this regard, said teachers should be promoted for excellent performance using agreed and well-established criteria.

Professor Asabere-Ameyaw said this at the matriculation of 866 teachers to undertake eight weeks courses in diploma and degree programmes through sandwich programmes at the University.

Some of courses they would be doing were, Education Administration and Management, Human Rights Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, Special Education, Teaching of English as a Second Language, English Education, French Education, Physical Education, Home Economics Education, Certificate in Pre-School Education and Music and Arts.

Professor Asabere-Ameyaw said that the appointment of Heads of Department and Circuit Supervisors on the long service must be looked at, "appointment to such key position should be based on merit and qualification".

He said the university has introduced a portfolio assessment system that allows heads and teachers to document their strengths in teaching skills, management skills, knowledge of the cognitive growth of the child, assessment skills.

The VC therefore said all teachers should be encouraged to build teaching portfolio as part of the requirement for effective teaching, adding that this could assist in the evaluation of teachers for promotion.

He told the students that the programmes they have enrolled are designed to improve the activities of practicing teachers and heads of educational institutions to enable them to create a transformational climate in their institutions.