The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has revealed a concerning rise in absenteeism in schools located in mining communities, attributing it to illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
NAGRAT’s President, Angel Carbonu, speaking on Accra-based on Citi FM on Tuesday stated that students in areas heavily affected by galamsey are increasingly irregular in school. This irregular attendance is disrupting the educational process.
“Students in these mining regions often find that participating in galamsey offers immediate financial rewards far beyond what they could expect from their education, leading to decreased school attendance and negatively impacting both teaching and learning,” he stated.
Mr. Carbonu also highlighted the difficulties in combating the galamsey issue, noting that political figures who control resources and can acquire machinery to facilitate illegal mining often benefit from these activities.
In response, NAGRAT is urging the government to take decisive action, including implementing a nationwide ban on small-scale mining and halting the issuance of licenses for gold prospecting in water bodies and forest reserves.
“To address this crisis, we need to take immediate measures to stop the damage. This includes banning all small-scale mining activities across the country, removing machinery from forests and rural areas, identifying and punishing those involved in illegal mining, and halting the issuance of any new licenses for gold prospecting or mining.”
Source: Adomonline
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