Teachers threaten strike over ‘problematic’ working conditions

Three pre-tertiary education teacher unions are threatening to stay away from the classroom due to some unfavourable situations hampering academic activities in schools across the country.

These issues include teaching and learning resources, contact and working hours, upgrading of teachers, and issues regarding promotions.

The groups added other grievances like allowances, transfers, the signing of performance contracts, and the refusal to appoint teachers in offices as heads and assistant heads of schools.

The teacher unions are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

These issues, the teachers say are to be blamed for the poor quality of education, which reflects in the results of students, especially at the first cycle institutions.

The teacher unions in a statement sighted by GhanaWeb said, if their concerns are not addressed by the close of September 2021, they will not hesitate to lay down their tools.

“We, the teacher unions are hereby serving notice that if by the close of September 2021, all these issues are not resolved in full by the employer, then we will have no option than to advise ourselves in the best interest of our members within the framework of our collective agreement and the applicable laws of Ghana.”

On the signing of the performance contract, in particular, the groups argued that “this is unacceptable because the unions do not know the details and the implications of the contract. We call on the management of the GES to suspend the signing of the performance contracts until it has been discussed with the unions.”