The Ghana National Association of Teachers Ladies Association (GNATLAS) has renewed its call for the extension of maternity leave from the current three months to six months, citing the substantial health and professional benefits it would bring to mothers, newborns, and the education sector.
GNATLAS stressed that a six-month maternity leave would align with the Ghana Health Service’s recommendation of six months of exclusive breastfeeding, a practice crucial for optimal infant development and maternal health.
“Extended maternity leave would allow mothers adequate time to recover fully from childbirth while providing the necessary care and bonding with their babies,” the group said. “This would reduce psychological stress and improve maternal well-being.”
According to GNATLAS, female teachers would return to work more rested and focused, enabling them to better support learners’ academic and emotional needs in the classroom.
Mrs. Catherine Asaam, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Coordinator of GNATLAS, made the appeal at the Seventh Quadrennial District Roundtable held in Abura Dunkwa.
The roundtable brought together female teachers to reflect on past activities, share experiences, address professional concerns, and plan future initiatives. It also provided an avenue for leadership elections and served as a forum to promote mentorship, health awareness, and women’s empowerment in education.
Held under the theme “The Ghana Education Service at 50: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in Motivating the Female Teacher for Quality Education Delivery,” the roundtable underscored the importance of female leadership and advocacy.
Mrs. Asaam encouraged female teachers to actively pursue leadership roles, emphasizing that “if you educate a man, you educate an individual; but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
She also urged women to embrace digital innovation and take advantage of emerging technologies to boost their professional development and societal contributions.
