Teacher Trainees Plead for Allowance Arrears
The recent strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) may have been called off, but the struggles of teacher trainees are far from over. As they prepare to return to school, many are facing a harsh reality: they can't afford to go back.
The government's failure to pay their allowance arrears has left these future educators in a precarious situation. With empty pockets and a lack of support, they're pleading for help to get back to their studies.
For many teacher trainees, the allowance is their lifeline. It's what keeps them in school, allowing them to focus on their studies without the burden of financial stress. But with the arrears piling up, they're forced to make impossible choices between food, transportation, and accommodation.
Some trainees who stayed on Campus during the strike had to rely on personal resources, using their own money to feed themselves.
"I'm struggling to make ends meet," says Kusi, a level 200 teacher trainee. "I've had to borrow money from friends just to survive. But now that the strike is over, I need my allowance to return to school. I'm begging the government to pay us."
Level 400s, who are preparing to graduate, are also crying out for help. Many of them rent accommodations outside campus, and without their allowance, they're facing eviction.
"I'm a level 400 student, and I rent a room off-campus," says Ayiwa. "My landlord is threatening to evict me because I haven't paid my rent in months. I need my allowance to settle my debts and focus on my final exams."
The teacher trainees are not asking for much. They simply want the government to fulfill its promise and pay their allowance arrears. It's a matter of fairness and justice.
If the government fails to act, the consequences will be dire. Teacher trainees will be forced to drop out of school, abandoning their dreams of becoming educators. The already strained education system will suffer, and the future of Ghana's children will be put at risk.
We urge the government to take immediate action and pay the allowance arrears. It's time to prioritize the needs of these future educators and ensure they can continue their studies without financial stress.
To the teacher trainees, we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you. Your struggles are not in vain. Keep pushing forward, and know that your voices are being heard.
Let's work together to ensure that these dedicated individuals can become the teachers Ghana deserves. Paying their allowance arrears is just the first step.
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