President of University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), Dr Christian Philip Armah, has demanded the resumption of teaching activities in universities across the country as students have paid fees and are expected to be taught.
According to him, although UTAG’s prolonged strike action isn’t the first to happen, he does not want a repetition that will disrupt the academic schedules of students. Dr Armah explained that with the imminent closure of universities as UTAG’s strike enters its fourth week, students will be made to bear the brunt of its repercussions.
“It happened in the nineties and some of our lecturers who are currently teaching us were affected; some of them were students… So, we do not want that situation to happen [and] that is why… we are bent on making sure that our lecturers return to the classroom. If for nothing at all, Ghanaian students have paid fees and we demand to be taught”.
Dr Christian Philip Armah
Dr Armah expressed worry particularly concerning the “image out there” for the country considering the international students who have paid to be taught. He questioned whether Ghana is the “destination where we want international students to always come and benefit from the education we are giving to our people?”.
“With this strike action, it is very expensive for these international students and the fees they pay is not easy. In terms of accommodation, they do not pay even the same amount that the Ghanaian students are paying and they have been here for weeks [and] we are entering the fourth week and nothing is going on. So, we do not want to be quiet about this…”
Dr Christian Philip Armah
Impact of UTAG strike on academic work
Commenting on the impact of the strike on the student population, Dr Armah disclosed that students are still in school, although they are not privy to information regarding when lecturers will return. Last year, he explained that just when students were about writing their exams, lecturers went on strike and the academic calendar was distorted. Following the calling off of UTAG’s strike, he noted that the move placed undue stress on students to complete the academic year because the academic calendar was not extended.
“So, more pressure, more work within the shortest possible time. We went for a very short break, we’ve come back [and] parents were forced to pay fees again and just when we were about paying our fees, securing our accommodation for ourselves, another strike action. So, the impact on students [and] academic work has been very huge, and on us as student leaders, double wahala… It’s been a stressful period for the past three weeks and we can’t take it any longer”.
Dr Christian Philip Armah
Dr Armah revealed that as part of the Association’s effort to expedite the resolution of matters relating to the strike action, USAG has met with the National Labour Commission and the Ministry of Education. However, he explained that in the past week, their core meetings have been with the various Students’ Representative Councils across the country which have bemoaned the “conditions of the students”.
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