According to Razak Soale, Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) President, GTEC seems unconcerned about the strike’s impact on students, as evidenced by their decision to maintain normal operations at Colleges of Education amidst the CETAG strike.
Soale warned that the prolonged CETAG strike spells increasing doom for students, particularly those in level 400, who are racing against time to complete their courses within the remaining three-week window.
He pointed out that the extended strike would result in additional financial burdens for final-year students, as the inevitable extension of the academic calendar would lead to increased expenses.
“Even if the colleges won’t be closed down, let the students go and prepare both psychologically and financially. The call for closure came at the back of these reasons but if it is not granted, we will just meet with our team members and advise ourselves”.
“We were feeling that the government, through GTEC and other stakeholders, was really demanding for solution but we are now reconsidering that. This letter [GTEC’s press statement] also indicates that GTEC is seeking financial clearance to recruit 2,500 teachers. So, if there are funds to recruit teachers, why not use them to up our teachers so that we will have our teachers back in the classroom”.
Razak Soale
Soale noted that the GTEC’s decision to freeze CETAG members’ July salaries has poured fuel on the fire, worsening the existing impasse and complicating the matter.
He indicated that TTAG will formally address GTEC’s statement at a suitable juncture, following careful consideration.
GTEC Assures Teachers’ Welfare
However, Prof. Francis Nunoo, Deputy Director of GTEC, gave assurance that the welfare of college teachers is being adequately addressed and that the hiring of new teachers will not compromise their interests.
According to Prof. Nunoo, the payment of top-up allowances and all-year-round stipends to colleges has been completed, with all institutions across the country having received the funds.
He noted that the primary objective of the recruitment initiative is to bolster the teacher complement, leading to improved pedagogical standards and academic excellence in the colleges.
“The government is committed to solving the issue. We are doing a revolutionary type of treatment, addressing all the needs. Yesterday we had an engagement with them [CETAG] and we showed them the extent to which the migration has been done”.
“As we speak today, we’ve migrated 20 of them and within a week or so we will work on their payment so that they will also be paid to the level we have migrated them to. So, the government is doing its best to address these three things that they were awarded by the NLC”.
Prof. Francis Nunoo
Prof. Nunoo further emphasized that GTEC lacks the authority to unilaterally shut down the colleges, stressing that any such action would require a formal directive from the relevant ministry.
Prof. Nunoo revealed that GTEC is still awaiting a meeting with the Minister of Education to discuss and determine the fate of the colleges of education, amidst the ongoing CETAG strike, and whether closure is a viable option.
He disclosed that the Minister of Education is deeply concerned about the ongoing impasse and is intensively engaging with CETAG in efforts to persuade them to suspend their strike action and return to the negotiating table.
Prof. Nunoo emphasized that GTEC has fulfilled its obligations by substantially addressing the demands of CETAG, and is now urging CETAG to reciprocate by bringing an end to the strike and restoring normalcy to the colleges.
However, Larry K. Agbador, Editor of Teacher Education Journal, countered that GTEC is falling short of meeting CETAG’s demands, revealing that CETAG is dissatisfied with certain claims made by GTEC regarding its efforts to address the issue.
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