The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has rejected further promises from the government to address outstanding concerns over teachers' conditions of service. The union, along with the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), declared an immediate nationwide strike. They demand action on issues including payment of promotion arrears and delays in negotiations over their conditions of service. The unions insist that these issues require urgent attention.
Isaac Baah, Head of Salaries at GNAT, stated that the latest engagement with the Minister of Education and his team did not provide the necessary assurances. He emphasized that previous commitments had not translated into the expected action. According to Baah, the unions have reached a point where further promises are no longer enough; the government must demonstrate that outstanding commitments are being implemented.
The striking teachers' unions are maintaining their industrial action despite the latest meeting with the Education Minister. Baah stressed that teachers would continue to stay away from their classrooms until there was tangible evidence that the issues raised by the unions were being addressed. He specifically pointed to outstanding salary arrears, saying teachers wanted to see the payments reflected on their payslips and credited to their bank accounts before considering ending the strike.
The Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD) explained that there was a delay in teachers' promotion arrears, but 6,079 cases had already been paid. This information comes amid the nationwide teachers' strike. The CAGD's statement may help alleviate some of the concerns, but the unions remain resolute in their demands for concrete action.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has appealed to the striking teacher unions to return to the classroom. He continues engagements with their leadership, alongside the CAGD, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), and the Ghana Education Service (GES). However, the unions have rejected the government's plea, vowing to stay home until salaries reflect on payslips.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is set to meet with teacher unions on October 6 as the strike continues. This meeting may provide further clarity on the government's plans to address the outstanding issues. The unions are demanding that the government takes concrete action to address their concerns, including the payment of promotion arrears and implementation of agreed-upon conditions of service.
The ongoing strike by Ghanaian teachers has significant implications for the education sector. With the government's assurances failing to convince the unions, it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved. The unions have made it clear that they will not back down until their demands are met, and the government must take concrete action to address their concerns.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government must take concrete action to address the concerns of striking teachers, including the payment of promotion arrears and implementation of agreed-upon conditions of service.
- The striking teachers' unions, including GNAT, NAGRAT, and PRETAG, remain resolute in their demands for concrete action from the government.
- The ongoing strike has significant implications for Ghana's education sector, with the government's assurances failing to convince the unions.
