By Samuel Ofori Boateng
Kumasi, Sept. 28, GNA – Pupils from various public schools in the Kumasi Metropolis have appealed to the government to urgently address the concerns of striking teachers to enable them to go back to school.
The pupils, mostly from Basic and Junior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis, made the appeal when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited some schools in the metropolis on Monday morning.
A visit to some of the schools showed that many classrooms were empty, with only a few pupils seen on the school compounds as no academic activities were taking place.
Some of the pupils told the GNA that they had been reporting to school since Friday but had been left idle because their teachers were absent in compliance with the industrial action declared by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (PRETAG).
The pupils expressed concern that the continued absence of their teachers could negatively affect their studies, particularly their preparation for upcoming end-of-term examinations.
They, therefore, appealed to the government, the Ministry of Education and the leadership of the teacher unions to engage in constructive dialogue and reach an agreement to enable teachers to return to the classroom.
Meanwhile, teachers in the region have maintained that they would not return to the classroom until their outstanding demands are addressed.
Among the issues raised by the teachers are the placement of promoted teachers, payment of the 20 per cent Deprived Area Allowance, and the signing of a new Collective Agreement.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Bertha Badu-Agyei/Benjamin Mensah