- Govt meets CETAG on Aug 19 to discuss strike.
- CETAG strike halts academic work at 46 colleges.
- Students propose closing colleges until issue resolved.
- Govt claims breakthrough, assures teachers' return.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations (MLER) has invited the leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association Ghana (CETAG) and other stakeholders to a crucial meeting on Monday, August 19. The meeting aims to address the concerns of CETAG members who have been on a nationwide strike for two months, bringing academic work to a halt at all 46 Colleges of Education in the country.
The invited stakeholders include the President of CETAG, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Director Tertiary (Ministry of Education), Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Director General, GTEC, and the Head of Public Financial Management Unit (CPMU). CETAG members embarked on strike action on June 14, protesting the government’s delay in implementing their National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award and negotiated service conditions.
The striking teachers are demanding payment for additional duties performed in 2022 and application of agreed rates of allowances payable to public universities to deserving CETAG members. The strike has severely impacted academic activities, affecting teaching and learning on all campuses of colleges of education.
In response, the leadership of the College of Education Students Association has proposed closing the colleges to allow students to go home while the issue is being resolved. However, the government has opposed this proposal, claiming a breakthrough with CETAG and assuring that teachers will soon return to campus to teach.
Prof. Samuel Atintono, President of PRINCOF, has assured the nation that they are ready to fix the academic calendar to restore normalcy as soon as CETAG members return to campus. The meeting on Monday aims to find a resolution to the impasse and get academic activities back on track in the colleges of education.
