Four teacher unions in Ghana have declared a nationwide strike over the failure of the government to meet the June 30 deadline they set for the payment of their Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA).
The unions are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), and Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).
General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, said the teacher groups are disappointed at the failure of the government to heed their calls. The prices of goods and services have increased exponentially in Ghana over the last few months. Teachers are asking for 20 to 30% of allowances to help cushion against the increasing cost of living in the country.
The Sad Life of Teachers in Ghana
In Ghana, one of the least paid public workers is teachers. Not too long the president of Ghana applauded teachers for good work and services rendered to the good people of Ghana but retorted that teachers would not become millionaires because of the poor conditions of service in the education industry.
The president advised that professionals in the teaching industry must add a side hustle to cushion their lives if they want to survive in the teaching industry because it is a job that involves sacrifice. Although the above is true, they deserve better conditions of services since they are the backbone of almost every economy.
Anxiety as BECE approaches
What does this strike mean to pupils in the country and final JHS students who will be writing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) soon?
The BECE is a high-stakes test that all students in Ghana must take to move on to secondary school. However, BECE is looming large for students as teachers across the country have been on strike, demanding better working conditions and pay. The strike has left many students without adequate preparation for the exam.
The situation has left many students feeling anxious and uncertain about their future. Some worry they will be unable to attend college because of the requirement of passing the BECE, while others are afraid of a bleak future. For now, however, the governments and concerned Ghanaians hope teachers will come to a consensus before it is too late.
The 2022 BECE will commence on Monday, October 17, 2022. However, due to the ongoing teachers’ strike in Ghana, many students are worried about how prepared they will be for the exam. They know that the only option is to study as much as possible to prepare themselves and pass their exams with flying colours. With this said, it’s unfortunate that these strikes happen and cause stress among students who want nothing more than an education and a bright future.
“I’m scared because we haven’t been doing any lessons, and I don’t know what might happen during exams”, said a 15-year-old student in an interview with The Vocal Ghanaian.
Was the Strike Action a Heartless Thing to do?
Many workers in the country use protest and strike to voice their grievances for government to heed their demands and claims. It is the right of every Ghanaian worker to protest if their conditions of services are not good. Teachers using the same means is right according to the legal laws in the country. Although teaching is a job that involves sacrifice, they also have families whom they take care of them.
A successful end to the strike would bring much-needed relief for students and parents struggling with uncertainty over how best to prepare for BECE amid such upheaval. It will also be a relief to the government, and teachers too will feel appreciated.
Adam Ibrahim
Adam is passionate about politics and issues that affect governance. As a writer, he channels his energies into writing on pertinent national and political issues for the good of the Ghanaian people.