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Teachers have gone ahead with their strike despite appeals by government to rescind the decision. The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman is reported to have visited some schools to assess the situation for herself. The President of NAGRAT, Christian Addae Poku, says much as members are also parents and care about the welfare of students they believe it is equally necessary for teachers' rights to be respected by government. Speaking to Radio Ghana on calls from parents, civil society groups and government for them to go back to the classroom, Mr. Addae Poku said government should also be seen to be serious with the plight of teachers. Our Correspondents report that virtually all the second cycle and basic public schools in the Kumasi metropolis have been closed down following the declaration of a strike by both GNAT and NAGRAT. At all the basic schools visited this morning, while the greater number of both teachers and pupils had already left for home, small numbers of them were still on the schools� premises, without any academic work taking place Students in the regions have also had their share of the nationwide strike by NAGRAT and GNAT. Our Regional Corespondents have been telling us happenings in some schools across the country. Meanwhile, the threat by teachers to embark on strike continues to attract the attention and concern of parents and civil society groups. The Executive Secretary of the Coalition of Parents of Students, Dr. Simon Gbene says the decision is wicked and unacceptable. Dr. Gbene told Radio Ghana that the life and future of Ghanaian pupils and students must be of priority to all teachers. He therefore appealed to the teachers not to embark on the strike but exercise patience for government to address their concerns. The Convener of the Forum for Accountable Governance, Dr. Clement Apaak also thinks much as teachers have the right to fight for their rights, they must remember that it is equally important to consider the rights of the school pupils and students. He also called on the leadership of the teachers to rescind their decision to put down the chalk.