The teacher unions in Ghana have called off their two-week industrial action following a meeting with the Council of State on Friday. As a result, their members will resume work and return to the classrooms on Monday, October 12. This development brings to an end a nine-day strike that had disrupted academic activities in first and second cycle institutions. The unions had been pressing for the government to address three key issues.
Prior to the suspension, the government had intensified discussions with the three teacher unions, which included the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG). These talks involved the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, the Council of State, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC). The goal was to resolve the issues that led to the strike.
The issues at the center of the strike included the collective agreement of the teachers, deprived area allowance, and promotions. According to Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, sector minister at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, the discussions with the teacher unions were productive. He mentioned that promotion was a challenging issue because it required input from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Controller and Accountant General.
Agyekum disclosed that a team had been formed to tackle the promotion issue, and it had made significant progress. By Thursday, about 64,000 teachers had been processed and confirmed by the Controller and Accountant General. This development raised hopes that the unions would call off their strike. The Ministry of Education has welcomed the suspension of the strike, describing it as a positive step towards resolving the outstanding concerns.
The Ministry of Education expressed appreciation to the teacher unions for suspending their nationwide strike. It acknowledged the decision as a constructive move towards addressing the teachers' concerns through dialogue. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with the unions, the FWSC, and other stakeholders to promote teachers' welfare and ensure stability in the education sector.
The Ministry of Education also appreciated the patience and resilience of teachers, parents, learners, and other stakeholders affected by the industrial action. It urged all parties to maintain the spirit of cooperation to consolidate the gains made through negotiations. The suspension of the strike is seen as a relief to students and parents who were affected by the two-week disruption in academic activities.
The agreement to return to the classrooms on October 12 is expected to bring stability to the education sector. The Ministry of Education and the teacher unions will continue to engage in discussions to address the outstanding issues. Key issues, such as the collective agreement, deprived area allowance, and promotions, will be prioritized to prevent future disruptions.
Key points
- The teacher unions in Ghana have suspended their two-week strike following a meeting with the Council of State.
- The strike was called off after productive discussions with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
- The Ministry of Education has welcomed the suspension, reaffirming its commitment to addressing teachers' concerns through dialogue.
