The Coalition of Private School Teachers, Ghana (CPTS-Ghana) has blamed the government for denying them a decent livelihood as well as denying Ghanaian children their right to education.
According to the group, providence will be a better judge of various stakeholders who have turned a blind eye to their plight, further stating that there is no clear reason for government’s decision to postpone the reopening of schools to next year.
“We reject the reasons for denying the Ghanaian children their constitutional rights to education for almost one year and the right of private school teachers to work to earn decent livelihoods”.
Also, the Coalition have rescinded their decision to embark on their scheduled demonstration on September 22 in a bid to forestall endangering the safety of their members, but would rather resort to involving God in the matter.
“For us as teachers in the private sector, all we say is that if indeed we are being denied our decent livelihoods and the Ghanaian child is taken out of the classroom for almost a year just for political expediency, the Bible has said that vengeance is the Lord’s. This battle is indeed the Lord’s.
“The silence of all political parties, religious leaders, the media, civil society organizations etc. to this issue is a clear attestation to the fact that Ghana as a country does not prioritize the education of our children and if indeed it is true that we reap what we sow, then posterity will be a better judge”.
In light of this latest development, they however remain unfazed by government’s decision as there have been some speculations of government’s insufficient funds to cater for the free SHS programme, largely informing the postponement of the reopening of schools.
The group further decried government’s reason of schools not being safe to resume “for the Ghanaian child to develop his or her careers” during a time when active cases in Ghana at the time of the President’s “last address was less than 1200 and all businesses including drinking spots, market places, churches etc. were reopened business”.
Similarly, they found no justification for the delay in reopening schools in Ghana, which has not suffered the attendant effect of the virus in the same proportions as other countries have.
They subsequently urged all private school teachers, individuals or institution whose business has been affected by the Coronavirus restrictions to join the CPTS-Ghana “to fight this battle on our knees…for God to exact judgment, if indeed the poor private school teachers, school-related businesses and the Ghanaian children deserve what we have been served with.”
The Coalition of Private School Teachers further advised its members to send a word of caution to relatives “to think twice and take with a pinch of salt when a politician offers anything for FREE.”
Their appeal comes on the back of President Akufo-Addo announcement in his 16th address on the Covid-19 pandemic that in consultation with the Ghana Education Service (GES), the remainder of the academic year for all nursery, kindergarten, primary, and JHS 1 and SHS 1 students has been postponed to 2021.
