The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) has cautioned the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) against intimidating its members following the strike by teachers’ unions.

According to TEWU, it is sad to note that some members of CHASS are threatening their members, the non-teaching staff and “especially the kitchen staff”. It revealed that CHASS is “forcing” them to remain at work.

Contained in a press statement signed by the General Secretary of TEWU, Mark Dankyira Korankye, TEWU noted that it finds the actions of CHASS members unfortunate.

“We, in the leadership of the Union, do not want to have any confrontations with anybody as far as this Industrial Action is concerned. No teacher is being forced and threatened to remain in the classroom so we do not see why the non-teaching staff are being treated this way.”
TEWU

TEWU equally requested the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service to call the Heads of CHASS to order and asked them to “refrain from the threats and intimidations” as TEWU and other teachers’ unions seek the appropriate response from government on their request.

“We are by this medium also telling ALL the Non-Teaching staff to withdraw all services and stay at home until you hear from us, your leaders.”
TEWU

This statement followed the strike action commenced by four teachers’ unions namely Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), TEWU and Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana, over their demand for the Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA).

National Service personnel take over classrooms

Meanwhile, school authorities have been compelled to rely on National Service Personnel (NSP) in the absence of the striking teachers.

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, the use of the national service personnel is part of a contingency plan rolled out to mitigate the effect of the strike.

“The contingency plan, I am aware that National Service Personnel are at post and they are helping together with the directors of education, both at the regional and the district levels with some school Management.”
Kwasi Kwarteng

Mr Kwarteng expressed that while the Ministry is working to resolve the concerns raised by the teachers to resume their posts, it is crucial for lessons to continue for the students.

“We are saying that in the interim, we appreciate and we continue to appreciate that they try to at least soften their stance, have a considerate position ahead of any future engagement that we will have.”
Kwasi Kwarteng

On July 6, 2022, a crunch meeting was held between the leadership of the four striking teacher labour unions and the government to resolve the impasse but ended in a stalemate.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the CEO of Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Benjamin Arthur, Director-General of Ghana Education Service, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah.

A member of the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Isaac Baah, stated that the “government came empty-handed and so we ended the meeting”.

He highlighted that the representatives at the meeting told the unions “they did not have the mandate” to grant the 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) the teacher unions demanded.