By Daniel Agbesi Latsu, GNA
Kadjebi (O/R), Sept. 29, GNA – Public schools in the Kadjebi Township in the Oti Region remained closed as the industrial action by teachers entered its second day.
A Ghana News Agency (GNA) visit to eight public basic schools in the township on Tuesday, September 29, found most of the schools without teachers and learners.
At the Kadjebi Central Junior High School (JHS), some learners were present when the GNA visited at 0757 hours, but there was no teacher available to teach them.
Miss Septiya Alabani, a Form Three student, said she and four other students had reported to school because they expected teachers to return after they had reported to school the previous day.
She said the learners had been in school the previous day without teachers teaching them.
Miss Alabani appealed to the government to engage the teacher’s unions and resolve the issues underlying the strike to enable teachers to return to the classrooms.
At Kadjebi R.C. JHS and Primary School, neither teachers nor learners were present when the GNA visited at 0802 hours.
Similarly, learners were not present at the Kadjebi D/A “A” JHS and Primary School when the GNA arrived at 0807 hours.
Mr John Ofori-Abrokwah, Headmaster of the Kadjebi D/A JHS, was, however, seen at the school.
He told the GNA that he was in the school to attend to some administrative duties and would leave shortly.
At the Kadjebi E.P. JHS and Primary School, a few learners were present at the primary school, while no learners were seen at the JHS.
At the Kadjebi Girls’ Model JHS, learners were present when the GNA visited at 0818 hours, but there were no teachers to conduct lessons.
A National Service Person, who declined to be named, was, however, seen at the school and explained that national service personnel were not covered by the industrial action and had therefore reported to provide teaching support.
Ms Victoria Enyonam Klugah, Kadjebi District Chairperson of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), said the industrial action would continue until the unions received a concrete response from the government.
She said although the national leadership of the association met the Minister of Education on Monday, September 28, the local leadership was yet to be briefed on the outcome of the meeting.
The three teacher unions – GNAT, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers-Ghana – on September 25 declared the industrial action over outstanding demands.
The demands include the payment of arrears owed teachers who had been promoted but had not received corresponding salary adjustments, a review of the Collective Agreement and payment of a 20 per cent salary incentive for teachers posted to deprived or remote areas.
The strike has disrupted teaching and learning in public schools in the area, with learners in some schools reporting to school but unable to receive regular classroom instruction.
The development has also heightened calls from learners and other stakeholders for an early resolution of the issues between the government and the teacher unions to minimise disruption to academic activities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei