Secretary of the Tamale Metro chapter of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Abdallah Bawa Zaato has called on government to consider the effects the teachers strike would have on school children by addressing immediately their concerns so that they can return to the classrooms.
He indicated that, terminal examinations which were scheduled to begin this week have been postponed until their grievances are addressed by government and the strike called off.
Basic school teachers across the country’s public schools on Monday December 09, 2019 have begun a nationwide strike to demand payment of their legacy arrears.
Most of the public basic schools in tamale diamond News can confirmed had their classrooms locked while the pupils loitered on the compounds. Some of the schools were opened but no teaching and learning took place with the pupils playing around.
Three unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) had earlier given Education officials a December 5, 2019 deadline to pay the legacy arrears dating back to 2012.
But speaking to Diamond news in an interview, secretary to the Tamale Metro chapter of GNAT Abdallah Bawa Zaato said even though the teachers are mindful of the consequences on the children, they will not back down on their demands.
The Tamale Metro GNAT secretary however indicated that, national service and NABCO personal within the schools are encouraged to take care of the children until the strike is called off.
The three teacher unions have directed all members to stay out of classrooms across the country in protest of the ‘sufferings’ endured ‘as a result of the negligence’ of government.
Meanwhile the Ghana Education Service has described the strike as unfortunate.
According to the Director-General of the GES, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah, more than half of the beneficiaries have been paid and the GES would publish the list of its staff that benefited from the legacy arrears.
Source: Ken-Zorre A. Edward | www.diamondfmonline.com | Ghana
