The Head of the Business Department at Radford University College, Martin Luther Obeng, has urged teachers to move beyond demanding better salaries and focus on creating value from their profession.
He said teachers had the numbers and influence to create significant economic opportunities if they worked together and used their collective strength wisely.
Mr Obeng made the remarks at the maiden edition of the Atinka Teachers Forum held at the Sika Hall in Accra.
He described teaching as a noble profession and said its impact extended beyond financial rewards.
According to him, the education sector was a huge industry with millions of people and institutions depending on it.
He noted that education had a large financial value and teachers should consider how they could benefit from the economic opportunities within the sector.
Mr Obeng said discussions about establishing a teachers’ bank should go further, with teachers looking at ways to create businesses and services that add value to their work.
“You have the numbers, so who has the power?” he asked, challenging teachers to recognise the strength of their collective numbers.
He said having a large membership alone was not enough to create wealth unless teachers were able to turn their skills, knowledge and activities into valuable products and services.
Mr Obeng stressed that wealth was created when people added value to the work they did.
He therefore encouraged teachers to change their mindset, explore business opportunities and find innovative ways to create additional value from the teaching profession.
He said teaching should not only be seen as a source of monthly income but also as a platform for creating opportunities and building wealth.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
