The Ghanaian government has expressed its commitment to addressing the concerns of striking pre-tertiary teachers, who have been off the job for about two weeks. The teachers are demanding delayed promotion-related payments, a proposed allowance for those serving in deprived rural communities, and the renewal of their collective agreement. Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, stated that the government is working to resolve the grievances and minimize the impact of the strike on pupils' education.
The strike has disrupted teaching and learning, affecting thousands of pupils across the country. Dr. Apaak emphasized that the government is not antagonistic towards the teachers and is not challenging their demands. He noted that the government is committed to appealing to the teachers to resume work while negotiations continue. The Deputy Minister described the appeal as part of efforts to address the concerns of the teachers, who are yet to return to the classroom.
According to Dr. Apaak, the government is particularly concerned about the interruption to pupils' education and will continue to appeal to teachers to return to their classrooms. He mentioned that the government will continue to engage the teachers, adding that it's not a crime to plead with them to resume work. The Deputy Minister expressed hope that progress would be made, including on the processing of outstanding promotion-related payments for affected teachers.
The government has been engaging with the teachers for two months, but the talks have yielded no progress. The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has stated that the government's inaction has led to the current strike. Meanwhile, the Council of State is set to meet with teacher unions over the strike. The meeting aims to find a resolution to the impasse and get the teachers back to work.
As part of efforts to address the concerns of the teachers, the government has announced plans to pay promotion-related payments to 52,000 teachers by October 15. The payment is expected to ease the financial burden on the teachers and encourage them to return to work. However, the teachers remain on strike, demanding a comprehensive resolution to their grievances.
The strike has sparked reactions from various stakeholders, including the Christian Council, which has called for the protection of mission schools' religious identity. The Local Government Service has also authorized the rationalization and redistribution of staff. Meanwhile, the government has begun a 175-hectare irrigation project to raise rice production, a move expected to boost food security and create jobs.
The government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the concerns of the teachers and ensuring that pupils' education is not further disrupted. Dr. Apaak has appealed to the teachers to be patient and to work with the government to find a lasting solution to their grievances. The outcome of the Council of State's meeting with teacher unions is expected to determine the next course of action.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government is appealing to striking pre-tertiary teachers to resume work amid delayed promotion payments and proposed rural allowance.
- The strike has disrupted teaching and learning, affecting thousands of pupils across the country.
- The government has announced plans to pay promotion-related payments to 52,000 teachers by October 15.
