The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has appealed to aggrieved teachers to call off their ongoing strike and return to the classroom while government addresses their concerns. The appeal follows a crunch meeting between the Minister and representatives of the teacher unions on September 28 to address the issues that triggered the industrial action. The meeting aimed to find a lasting solution to the impasse.
Mr. Iddrisu assured the unions that government is committed to addressing their concerns and finding a lasting solution to the impasse. He explained the composition of the government negotiation team and clarified the limits of his mandate. The government team includes representatives from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Comptroller as Treasurer of Government.
The Minister underscored the need to protect the academic calendar, which he said has been stabilised after years of disruptions. He stated that this is the first time in five years to a decade that government has stabilised and normalised the academic calendar for all levels of education. This calendar has allowed for a seamless transition for students.
Mr. Iddrisu noted that the current calendar has enabled students from secondary schools who passed WASSCE to seamlessly join the universities in September. He warned that a disruption of the academic calendar can be fatal for the country and for the future of young learners. The Minister urged the teacher unions to partner with government to resolve their legitimate concerns.
The strike, declared by teacher unions last week, has affected teaching and learning across Ghana, leaving many public basic and secondary schools deserted. The unions are protesting unresolved welfare issues, including conditions of service, allowances, and salary-related concerns. Parents and education stakeholders have called for swift intervention to restore normal teaching and learning in schools.
Government says it remains open to further discussions with the teacher unions as efforts continue to resolve the issues. The Minister's appeal to the striking teachers comes as the government seeks to find a lasting solution to the impasse. The teacher unions have not yet responded to the Minister's appeal.
The situation remains uncertain, with many schools still closed due to the strike. The government's commitment to addressing the concerns of the teacher unions will be crucial in resolving the impasse and restoring normalcy to the education sector.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government is committed to addressing the concerns of striking teachers and finding a lasting solution to the impasse.
- The Education Minister has warned that a disruption to the academic calendar could have fatal consequences for the country's education system.
- The strike has affected teaching and learning across Ghana, with many public basic and secondary schools deserted.
