CETAG to receive allowance in two weeks but July salaries remains frozen.
The standoff between the government and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has taken a new turn, with the government promising to pay the outstanding allowances of striking teachers within two weeks. This comes after CETAG members refused to call off their prolonged industrial action, despite the government declaring the strike illegal.
In an exclusive interview with JoyNews, Professor Francis Nunoo, Director for Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, revealed that the government is working tirelessly to settle the outstanding allowances. "We are fact-checking the claims, and based on the availability of national funds, the payment will be made within two weeks," he assured.
However, the teachers' refusal to return to work has resulted in their July salaries being frozen. Professor Nunoo warned that teachers have eight days to resume their duties or risk forfeiting their July salaries. "We have attendance lists of those who are working, and they will be exempted. But those who have not worked throughout the period may be affected," he cautioned.
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The government and CETAG are scheduled to meet separately to resolve the impasse. Professor Nunoo expressed optimism that the meetings will yield positive results. "We hope it won't get to the point where we have to freeze their salaries. We are engaging with them on Wednesday, and the Minister for Education, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, has called a meeting with government stakeholders to find a lasting solution."
Meanwhile, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has defended the government's decision to freeze the teachers' salaries. Executive Secretary Ofosu Asamoah emphasized that the ongoing strike is illegal, citing the court's injunction. "When it becomes an illegal strike, the law provides that they should not be paid for the period they engaged in the illegal strike," he explained.
In response to the government's actions, CETAG has directed its members to withdraw all services, including attendance of meetings and congregation ceremonies, provision of academic counseling, and supervision of students in their halls of residence. The leadership of CETAG explained that this decision is a result of the Minister of Education's directive to Principals and the Controller and Accountant General not to validate the July 2024 salaries of teaching staff due to their ongoing strike.
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The strike, which has affected all 46 public colleges of education nationwide, is a demand for better working conditions and remuneration packages. CETAG's demands include the payment of one month's salary to each member for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed rates of allowances payable to public universities to deserving CETAG members.
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen whether the government and CETAG will find a resolution to their differences. One thing is certain, however – the fate of the striking teachers and the future of Ghana's education system hang in the balance.
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