The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) in Ghana has expressed its full support for the ongoing strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions. The Council described the teachers' demands as legitimate and justified, emphasizing the critical role of teachers in the country's development. According to the NCPTAs, the welfare of teachers is essential to Ghana's progress, and no nation can rise above the welfare and quality of its teachers.
The NCPTAs attributed the current situation to years of unfulfilled promises and abandoned Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between teachers and the government. This has created a "deep credibility deficit" that has left teachers with no option but to embark on industrial action. The teachers' concerns include delayed promotions, unpaid arrears, and the implementation of revised collective agreements, as well as the 20% deprived area allowance.
The Council argued that Ghanaian teachers must be regarded as a national asset rather than a cost to the state. Investment in teacher welfare should not be viewed merely as expenditure but as an investment in national security and the country's future prosperity. The NCPTAs highlighted that the financial burden on parents following the closure of classrooms is significant, with parents having made substantial sacrifices to prepare their children for school.
The closure of classrooms has resulted in idle investments by parents, including spending on uniforms, sandals, books, and transportation. BECE and WASSCE candidates who had been prepared through extra classes are also being affected. The Council described the situation as not only a teacher crisis but also "a parental crisis, a family crisis." Every day without a teacher is a loss to the poor parent who spent their last cedi to prepare their child for school.
The NCPTAs expressed concern about empty classrooms and school compounds being left without adequate supervision. Citing the proverb, "When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers," the Council urged parents to keep their children at home until teachers return to school. An empty school without a teacher is a risk, not a school. The Council emphasized that the grass, in this case, is the child.
The NCPTAs has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to personally intervene in the dispute and direct the relevant authorities to work towards an immediate resolution. The Council also called on politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other influential personalities to support efforts to resolve the impasse. The government is urged to "go the extra mile" to address the concerns of teachers and set aside political differences.
The NCPTAs concluded by emphasizing the central role teachers play in Ghana's development, stating that the hand that holds chalk holds the country's future. The Council added that treating teachers well will ensure they treat children's futures well. The NCPTAs highlighted that without teachers, there can be no school, and without schools, there can be no future.
Key points
- The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations supports teacher unions' demands, citing legitimate concerns over welfare and unfulfilled promises.
- The Council urges parents to keep children at home due to empty classrooms and lack of supervision.
- The NCPTAs appeals to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the dispute and resolve the impasse.
