The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs), the mother umbrella body and chief custodian of all school-based Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) at the Pre-tertiary level of education in Ghana has urged the government to take immediate steps to address the pressing concerns of the various pre-tertiary teachers unions leading to their ongoing strike action.
The National President of the association, Christian Aikins Atsu in a press statement expressed deep concern over the impasse between the government and the various teacher unions in the country, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).
Mr Aikens Atsu stated that the strike, stemming from unresolved grievances regarding allowances, scheme of service, promotions, and the One-teacher-One-laptop policy, has severely disrupted teaching and learning activities in the various public basic schools nationwide.
Commenting on the proposed negotiations meeting scheduled to take place between the government and the three teacher unions, Mr Aikens Atsu called upon both parties to approach the negotiations in good faith, emphasizing the paramount importance of resolving the issues promptly.
Furthermore, the National President of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) underscored the adverse effects of the teachers’ unions strike on students’ academic progress, safety, and overall educational development, particularly concerning upcoming examinations such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) tests.
Mr Aikens Atsu also noted that final-year students of the various public Junior High Schools (JHS) and Senior High Schools (SHS) in the country may not complete their syllabi as well as get adequate preparations in terms of the conduct of Mock Examinations, marking and related review of their performance before they sit for their respective examination by the West African Examination Council if the strike action persists.
“Parents/ Guardians in these precarious circumstances, feel gravely disturbed as the ongoing nationwide strike has already triggered the following effects on our children/wards in terms of creating a conducive school climate for effective teaching, learning and improved academic work as instructional and other related contact hours between students and their teachers for learning among others towards preparing students adequately to meet the global human capital standards has generally gone nosedive”
Christian Aikens Atsu
On the other hand, Mr Aikens Atsu admonished parents and guardians to refrain from sending their children to closed schools amidst the strike, emphasizing the potential risks to students’ safety and well-being in the absence of teachers.
Food Shortages In Public Schools
Regarding the concurrent food shortages in schools, which the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) attributed to delays in payments to food suppliers by the government, the statement highlighted the detrimental impact on students’ nutrition and overall health as a result of the situation.
The National President, Christian Aikens Atsu referenced instances of rationing and compromised meal quality, particularly in schools under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) and the Senior High/Technical and Vocational Schools feeding programme across the country.
Mr Aikens Atsu, while acknowledging the efforts of the School-based Parent Teacher Association across the country in supplementing feeding programs through fundraising activities, stressed the unsustainable nature of such endeavours in addressing what he deemed as systemic issues.
Moreover, the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) statement cited several reports on the deteriorating state of feeding in the various secondary schools in the country including recent revelations from a documentary titled “Empty Plates”, which he noted shed light on the severity of the food crisis in some schools.
“Furthermore, daily reports abound in “Privileged” Primary schools covered by the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), about the worsening situation on the poor quality, quantity, nutritious and safety of food supplied by the Caterers of School feeding programmes across the country lives much to be desired.
“Most of these Caterers are also attributing their inability to do a better job as a result of accumulated arrears owned them by government and the skyrocketing of food and perishable items on the market vis-a-vis the non-review by government of the feeding rate per child over the years”.
Christian Aikens Atsu
Mr Aikens Atsu, the National President of the association also cited excerpts of a statement from the International Monetary Fund’s Country Policy Document, which according to him affirms the need for the government to review and rationalize the Free Senior High School (SHS) program.
In addition, the National President of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs), Christian Aikens Atsu advocated for a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders, including government bodies, Teacher Unions, Parent-Teacher Associations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and educational associations, to address the multifaceted challenges facing the country’s education sector.
He emphasized the necessity for decisive action to ensure the restoration of industrial peace and the enhancement of educational quality for the benefit of Ghana’s youth.
The statement concluded by reiterating the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations commitment’s to supporting initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis and urged all parties to prioritize the interests and the future of the country’s education.
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