February 11, 2025

We are dedicated to addressing the CETAG strike — Prof. Jinapor

0
Prof. Jinapor9

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has affirmed its dedication to ensuring the swift migration of Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) members to the university salary structure. In addition to this, GTEC is actively working to resolve the payment of overdue funds to the colleges of education.

This commitment was reiterated during a crucial meeting held in Accra aimed at resolving the issues that led to the indefinite strike action declared by CETAG. The meeting, which involved representatives from CETAG, including President Maxwell Bunu, focused on discussing how best to address the unresolved concerns of the association. Following the deliberations, CETAG decided to take the matter back to its National Council for further consultation on the next steps.

The CETAG executive emphasized that a unilateral decision to end the strike could not be made without input from the national council, signaling the importance of collective decision-making within the association.

In response to the ongoing strike, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor, the Director-General of GTEC, expressed his concerns about the timing of the industrial action. He described it as “unhealthy” and “wrong,” particularly given the release of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results and the commencement of the student admissions process. According to Prof. Jinapor, any disruption to the colleges would create significant challenges for students, especially as the academic year is about to begin.

Prof. Jinapor emphasized that the services of the teachers were crucial to the smooth running of the educational system, and any disruption in the colleges would negatively affect the academic calendar. He appealed to CETAG to fast-track their internal consultations, urging them to conclude the discussions within hours, not days, in order to avoid further disruptions to the students’ academic journey.

During the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department were also present. All parties pledged to present positive updates at their next meeting, with a focus on resolving the issues surrounding the strike. This renewed commitment came after CETAG’s call for urgent action to address their grievances fairly and quickly.

While CETAG has shown a willingness to consider the possibility of ending the strike, they have also underscored the need for immediate and fair action on the part of the government. The strike was officially declared after CETAG’s Emergency National Council meeting on December 30, 2024. Prior to this, CETAG had issued two previous notices on September 26 and December 23, 2024, but the National Labour Commission (NLC) failed to adequately address their concerns.

In a statement released on December 31, 2024, CETAG explained that the strike action became necessary due to the government’s continued violation of signed agreements and the unfulfilled obligations stemming from the compulsory arbitration award issued by the NLC on May 2, 2023.

GTEC, which is tasked with ensuring access to high-quality education in Ghana, also stressed the importance of finding an amicable solution to prevent any further disruption to the educational sector. As part of its mandate, GTEC works on formulating policies, providing accreditation, and ensuring quality assurance for educational institutions across the country.

With colleges of education set to reopen on January 13, 2025, there is hope that the teachers will return to their posts and academic activities will resume as scheduled. This would mark a crucial step in overcoming the disruption caused by the strike and ensuring that the academic calendar continues without further delay.

The resolution of this issue is essential not only for the well-being of teachers but also for the future of students who rely on the colleges of education for their academic development. Both GTEC and CETAG are under pressure to work together and resolve the outstanding issues so that the students can continue their education without any further setbacks.

About The Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *