A visit by the Ghana News Agency to some schools within the Akatsi township on Tuesday showed largely deserted school compounds, with classrooms locked and no teaching and learning activities taking place. The schools visited included Akatsi Number One Junior High School, Akatsi R.C. Basic School, and Duawodome Basic School. This comes after the Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers, and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana declared a nationwide industrial action on Friday, September 25.
The teachers' unions are demanding the placement of teachers who had successfully passed promotional examinations on the appropriate salary scales, and payment of outstanding promotion-related arrears. They are also seeking the implementation of the deprived area allowance and progress on negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Mr. Raymond Atsugah, the Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers for Akatsi South and North, confirmed that teachers in the two districts were complying with the directive from their national leadership.
The strike has consequently affected teaching and learning in the two areas, with pupils and students unable to receive their usual classroom instruction. However, the Ghana News Agency observed smooth educational activities on the part of private schools within the Akatsi South Municipality. This suggests that the impact of the strike may be mitigated in areas with a higher concentration of private schools.
On Monday, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister for Education, appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action as engagements continued to address the concerns raised by the teachers. However, the unions maintained that their members would remain off duty until concrete steps were taken to address the outstanding issues.
The Akatsi South and North districts are not the only areas affected by the strike, as reports indicate that over 2,000 teachers in Dormaa have also complied with the strike. The Ghana National Association of Teachers has confirmed that its members are off duty, adding to the growing list of districts affected by the industrial action.
As the strike continues, the Ghanaian government faces mounting pressure to address the concerns raised by the teachers' unions. The implementation of the demands, including the placement of teachers on the appropriate salary scales and payment of arrears, remains a critical step towards resolving the impasse and restoring normalcy to the country's educational system.
Key points
- The nationwide industrial action by teachers' unions has disrupted academic activities in Akatsi South and North, with pupils and students unable to receive classroom instruction.
- The unions are demanding the implementation of several measures, including the placement of teachers on the appropriate salary scales and payment of outstanding promotion-related arrears.
- The strike has affected public basic schools, while private schools in the area have reported smooth educational activities.
