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The National Union of Ghana students has called on the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and all other stakeholders to go back to the negotiation table to resolve the controversy surrounding the market premium and ‘book and research allowance’ demands of CETAG.

According to NUGS, the strike action is leaving the faith of newly admitted students of Colleges of Education in limbo.

In a statement signed by its new president, Richmond Asare Tinkaro, NUGS said “the strike action has had negative effect on students of the over 46 Colleges of Education especially for the new entrants who just entered their colleges and have not had access to their reading materials, books and lecturers to take them through their academic studies”.

According to NUGS they are interested in the concerns of Students and how soon such concerns would be addressed are therefore calling on all stakeholders including, CETAG, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Labour Commission, Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education to collaborate in addressing the impasse to ensure that students have a comfortable environment to continue their academic work.

CETAG Strike

CETAG members declared strike in October over the ‘failure of government to pay them their Interim Market Premium as well as Book and Research allowance.’ The strike which is in its third week has been described as illegal and needless by the National council for tertiary Education(NCTE).

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, had expressed shock at the decision by CETAG, to embark on the indefinite strike. The Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko Brobbey in an interview with the media said the Ministry is trying to call the teachers back to the negotiation table.

No payment for CETAG members

Meanwhile the NCTE, has directed all principals of the various Colleges of Education not to validate teachers of the colleges for the receipt of their salaries for November.

According to the NCTE, CETAG was urged to call off the strike after a meeting where the government gave assurances to working to address their concerns but CETAG failed to do so.
In a statement the NCTE said “It is clear that CETAG is determined to stampede all processes by continuing with the bad faith and uncooperative attitude even as they persist with the illegal strike. And this is in spite of the best endeavours of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Employment and Labour to resolve the needless strife.”

NUGS’ sadness

But according to NUGS, they are “saddened by the protracted strike which has span for well over 21days” adding that “…when two elephants fight it is the ground that suffers. In this case the ordinary students seem to be at receiving end of this impasse”.
They are therefore also pleading with the government to put measures in place by ensuring that CETAG returns to the classroom.