The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NC-PTAs) in Ghana has expressed its solidarity with striking pre-tertiary teacher unions, citing legitimate grievances over welfare and quality of education. In a statement, the council urged President John Mahama to personally intervene to end the nationwide disruption of schools. The NC-PTAs emphasized that no country can outperform the welfare and quality of its teachers, highlighting the importance of resolving the dispute.
The strike, led by teacher unions, centers on unresolved issues including delayed promotions, unpaid arrears, non-implementation of revised collective agreements, and a 20 percent deprived-area allowance. The NC-PTAs noted that these concerns have lingered for years, with memoranda of understanding signed but not followed through, leading to a trust gap between teachers and the state. The council attributed the strike to a deep credibility deficit created by repeated government assurances without full implementation.
The NC-PTAs described the dispute as a crisis affecting not only teachers but also parents, families, and pupils across the country. With the strike persisting, parents who had spent money on school preparations, including uniforms and textbooks, are seeing those investments go to waste. The council warned that every day without a teacher represents a loss for parents who had prepared their children for school, likening the situation to sowing seed without a watchman to guard the farm.
The council highlighted the vulnerability of candidates preparing for crucial examinations, such as the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), who rely heavily on classroom instruction and extra lessons. The NC-PTAs called on President Mahama to take a personal interest in the matter and coordinate an urgent government-wide response to resolve the dispute.
The NC-PTAs urged President Mahama to direct the relevant ministers, including those of Finance, Education, and Labour, to work together towards an immediate settlement. The council framed teachers as a national asset, arguing that spending on their welfare is an investment in national security and future prosperity, rather than mere expenditure. This intervention adds pressure to a dispute that has already produced several flashpoints.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) had warned that delayed promotions could slash the pensions of retiring teachers, while the Ghana Education Service set an October 5 deadline to resolve the teachers' payment dispute. Pupils in Kumasi had also pleaded with the government to end the strike as their classrooms remained empty. The continuing absence of teachers has left parents who had prepared for the school term watching those preparations go to waste.
The NC-PTAs' statement did not provide specific numbers on the teachers affected by unpaid arrears or delayed promotions, nor did it give a figure for the outstanding 20 percent deprived-area allowance. No new date for talks or resolution was given beyond the previously reported October 5 deadline, leaving uncertainty about whether that timeline will hold as pressure on the government mounts from multiple directions.
Key points
- The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations in Ghana supports striking teachers, citing delayed promotions and unpaid arrears as key issues.
- The council urges President John Mahama to personally intervene to end the nationwide disruption of schools.
- The strike affects not only teachers but also parents, families, and pupils across the country, with candidates preparing for crucial examinations being particularly vulnerable.
