U/E: Trainee Teachers beg Gov’t To Resolve CETAG strike

Trainee teachers in Colleges of Education in the Upper East Region say the indefinite strike by their teachers is negatively affecting academic work.

They have appealed to the government to meet the demands of their teachers to enable them to return to the classroom.

The Colleges of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG) are on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their market premiums as well as their book and research allowances.

The move has brought teaching and learning activities in all colleges of education across the country to a halt.

At the St. John Bosco College of Education in Navrongo, in the Upper East Region, lecture halls have been locked up.

Some of the trainees were seen in their hostels chatting with their mates, while others used the time off to do their laundry and other chores.

A trainee teacher, Apita Francisca, said: “Our teachers are on strike, which we are not happy about. We are just on campus doing nothing and I don’t think we can even cover our syllabus before writing our first semester exams. The government must listen to our teachers and resolve the matter for them to return to the lecture halls.”

“The strike is affecting us. The academic calendar is going to be affected. As for the syllabus, I am not sure we can finish before exams,” another trainee, Asaan Mathew noted.

Natio Rejoice also added: “We do not know what to do, there are no relevant books for us to read till the strike is over and it is very sad. We are pleading with the government to attend to us by resolving the issue with our teachers so they come back to teach us.”

But the Northern Zonal Chairman of CETAG, Kwara Kojo, says their members will only return to the lecture halls if the government is able to provide assurances that their market premium and book and research allowance will be paid.

The Principal of the St. John Bosco, William Anamoo Atindana, said the situation at the College could worsen in the coming weeks if CETAG does not call off its strike soon.

Source: citinewsroom