Students stranded as CETAG begin indefinite strike
The Academic calendar of Colleges of Education faces immediate crises as Members of Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) are on indefinite strike.
According to report, students in some affected Colleges of Education across the country have stranded as tutors have abandoned their post over what they called market premium, research allowances and other concerns.
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) on Monday 29th October 2018 declared a nationwide strike in protest of unpaid salaries, market premium and research allowances owed its members since last year.
A statement signed by Prince Obeng-Himah, President of CETAG, said: “At an emergency National Council meeting of Collages of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) in Kumasi on Monday, 29 October 2018, the highest decision-making body of association resolved to embark on an indefinite strike action with immediate effect in all the forty-six public colleges of education.
“This follows the failure to reach an agreement with the government on Interim Market Premium as well as Book and Research allowance for members of CETAG after three months of negotiations.”
Although studies have been affected, the Local Chairman of Wesley College of Education Mr. Francis Kyeiwaa Badu maintains that teachers will continue to down their tools if government fails to meet their demands.
“We are really not going to allow anybody, be it political or whatever to mar this strike. The strike is an indefinite one and until our needs are met we are not going to call it off.”
However, some affected students have been left wandering about as the effect of the strike seems to have given them an untimely vacation though they only reported on campus.
The stranded students bemoan the situation, indicating that the strike is having dire effects on them particularly because they will have to take examinations regardless of the strike and its consequences.
“This will go a long way to affect our summative exams….if we are not able to study UCC date will not change. They know the importance of you sitting for a lecture and for which reason they are not turning up,” a student bemoaned.
Silver FM’s Akwadaa Nyame who visited the various Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region namely, St. Louis College of Education, Offinso College of Education and Wesley College of Education reported that, the students who have just reported has become stranded and appealing to the government to seek the affairs of their lecturers so that they can come back to their work by teaching them.
Meanwhile CETAG chairman of the Wesley College of education Mr Francis Kyei Badu has said that, until the arrears are paid, they are withdrawing their services from the 38 colleges across the country.
Source: thepressradio.com/Anokye Elvis
