Teacher Trainees across the country express their disappointment in the current government

Story by Frimpong Marco Boahen

WEC Sector General Secretary

Teacher trainees across the country have expressed their disappointment in the Nana Addo led government for failing to address the issues of teachers of colleges of education.

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG expressed their displeasure over the government’s persistent failure to institute their market premium, conditions of service, pay book and research allowances and salary arrears to members that have been outstanding since October, 2016 after they were migrated onto the Colleges of Education (CoE)  Pay Structure. This led to a declaration of an indefinite nationwide strike on Thursday, 2nd November, 2017.

In this regard, the leadership of Teacher Trainees' Association of Ghana (TTAG)issued a press release on 13th November, 2017 labelled TTAG/PL/01/25 calling on the government to quickly address the issue of CETAG. They complained of the strike's adverse effects on teacher trainees across the nation.

This is an extract from the press release:

"The leadership of TTAG has therefore expressed worry about the continue strike action of our tutors and has resolved to call on the Government to quickly address the issues of CETAG since it is affecting students negatively as far as academic issues among many are concerned. After the struggle between CETAG and the Government, we shall be the sufferers. Since the declaration of the nationwide strike, asking all members of the association to withdraw their services until the Government addresses the issues, It is disheartening to know that, the Government led by H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has shown unconcerned spirit towards our tutors Roughly six (6) years down the lane, our tutors embarked on two weeks nationwide strike about similar issues. Indicators showed clearly that, the then teacher trainees were affected negatively leading to withdrawal of a few of them.  That notwithstanding, we want to say on record that, all continuing students in the Public Colleges of Education have paid a huge sum of money as their semester school fees that were approved by the Parliament of Ghana and they must receive full tuition during their instructional periods no matter how the situations may be."

As at 15th November, 2017, the government had still not listened to their plea and cries. This led to the leadership of TTAG joining their tutors in their fight by instructing all teacher trainees across the country to put on red arm bands on their various campuses from Thursday, 16th November to Friday, 17th November, 2017.

They stated that if by the end of this action, the government still refuses to address the strike of CETAG, they would also advise themselves accordingly.

"In view of this, teacher trainees are directed to put on RED ARM BANDS on Thursday and Friday, 16th and 17th November, 2017 respectively in their various campuses. All student teachers (Mentees) are also directed to join their members in their campuses for the exercise. We would also like to inform the Government of Ghana led by H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo that, after this exercise, if nothing positive is done to direct our tutors/lecturers back into the classrooms, then we will advise ourselves accordingly."

How long will the struggle continue? Will the government grant the wish of CETAG and TTAG? What next action will TTAG take? The struggle still continues.

Reporting from TTAG, WEC Sector. I am Frimpong Marco Boahen, TTAG WEC Sector General Secretary.