By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), Oct. 10, GNA- Parents at Keta in the Volta Region have commended the government and teacher unions for reaching an agreement to suspend the nationwide strike.
They said the decision by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) to suspend the industrial action was a welcome development that would help restore academic activities.
Madam Sewoenam Hedeglo, a mother of three, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the strike had disrupted teaching and learning, created uncertainty among families and threatened the academic progress of pupils and students across the country.
“It is a relief that the government and the teacher unions had reached an agreement; the development will ease the concerns about the possible effects of prolonged school closures on the children’s education,” she said.
She said they had been worried about learners’ preparations for examinations and noted that the time spent away from school could affect their concentration, understanding of lessons and readiness for important assessments.
Madam Hedeglo also stressed that the strike had placed additional pressure on working parents, particularly those who had to make alternative arrangements for their children while attending to their daily economic activities.
Mr Korbla Dovlo, a parent, said the suspension of the strike was encouraging and urged the government and the teacher unions to honour their commitments to prevent a recurrence of the situation.
He said children needed consistent classroom instruction and guidance from teachers to develop their academic abilities, and that prolonged interruptions could widen learning gaps, especially among pupils who depended heavily on classroom teaching.
He stressed that the suspension of the strike should be followed by the full implementation of the agreement reached between the government and the teacher unions to ensure lasting industrial harmony in the education sector.
Under the agreement, about 52,000 promoted teachers are expected to receive their salary adjustments on October 16, 2026, while the remaining cases are expected to be addressed by the end of October.
They urged the government to ensure that the agreed payment arrangements were implemented within the stipulated period, and failure to honour the commitments could undermine confidence in the negotiations and create grounds for further industrial action.
The parents also appealed to teachers to return to the classrooms with renewed commitment and help learners recover lost instructional time, while calling on education authorities to put measures in place to minimise the impact of the disruption on the academic calendar.
They said the successful implementation of the agreement would restore confidence among teachers, parents and students, and urged both parties to maintain open communication and resolve future disagreements through dialogue in the interest of education and national development.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah