The government has been urged to address the issue of the dwindling number of Education Support Personnel (ESP) in educational institu­tions across the country.According to the Teachers and Educational Workers' Union (TEWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), a total number of 200 ESP who were TEWU members on a monthly average basis exited educational institutions through retirement, resignation, or death.TEWU also anticipated that about 600 ESP were expected to retire by the end of this year based on its membership.Bro.

King James Azortibah (third from right) with participants Photo: Seth OsabukleSpeaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday to discuss the issue, the General Secretary of TEWU, Mr King James Azorti­bah, explained that there was no recruitment policy to ensure that those who exited were replaced.The press conference, in commemora­tion of this year's World ESP Day under the theme, "Go Public!

Invest in Education Sup­port Personnel: Ensure Inclusive Education," was to celebrate the critical role ESP play in education delivery globally.According to Mr Azortibah, the provision of resources for ESP (TEWU members) to efficiently and effectively discharge their du­ties was supposed to be a national priority.However, he noted that ESP (TEWU members) in the country faced a number of challenges such as non-recruitment or replacement of ESP, over burden and extra duties that had health implications, as well as occupational hazards and unsafe working conditions.Mr Azortibah, therefore, called for col­lective responsibility in addressing the issue through collective mobilisation and advo­cacy, calling for improved rights, working conditions, and professional recognition in line with the Education International (EI) Declaration on the Rights and Status of ESP (TEWU members).He further urged the government to ac­knowledge ESP as essential education work­ers and involve them in policymaking and to develop immediate sustainable measures to recruit more ESP.Mr Azortibah commended ESP (TEWU) members working at educational institutions for their contributions to the delivery of education in the country.For her part, the Regional Coordinator EI, Mrs Anïs Dayamba, said that it was important for education communities and governments across the globe to pay attention to the in­valuable work of ESP.She said that EI, in 2023, launched a global campaign dubbed, "GoPublicFundEduca­tion", to call on governments to provide suf­ficient funds to ensure good salaries, working conditions, and rights for ESPs."By valuing and supporting education support personnel, we can create a more inclusive, supportive, and effective education system.

EI encourages all stakeholders to engage in regular dialogue with ESP to un­derstand their needs, concerns, and ideas, and work together to find solutions that benefit students and the education community," she added.In a statement read by Rose Quaye, Head of Department and Industrial Relations Offi­cer, TUC on behalf of the Secretary General of TUC, Mr Joshua Ansah pledged TUC's support for TEWU in its effort in improving the working conditions of ESPs.The Chairperson of TEWU, Mrs Salamatu Braimah Mahamah, applauded ESPs for their commitment and dedication in discharging their respective duties as well as stakeholders who made the programme a success. BY CYNTHIA ASAMPANA