A coalition of concerned teacher trainees in the Ashanti region is demanding a temporary closure of the 46 colleges across the country following the unabated strike by their teachers.
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) boycotted the classrooms after the government reneged on its promise to implement outstanding compulsory arbitration awards.
The students say the industrial action is adversely impacting their academic progress and mental health.
Classrooms in all 46 colleges of education remain empty.
CETAG’s industrial action started on June 14. The eight-week-old strike has stalled academic progress and adversely affected students.
“We are in limbo, unsure whether to stay on campus or return home. Our academic progress is stalled, jeopardizing our future as qualified teachers. The financial burden is affecting our mental health and well-being,” Convener of the group, Manuel Opoku Duah, said.
The teacher trainees who are bearing the brunt of the impasse are left stranded.
“We demand that the Colleges of Education be closed, and students allowed to return home since it has been more than 21 days without students engaging with their teachers. There should be a consideration of the implementation of the IN-IN-OUT system so that level 400 trainees would return to campus since most of their tenancy agreements would expire in October. We can’t continue to bear this uncertainty,” Mr Opoku Duah said.
The students are also worried about the nonpayment of six-month trainee allowances which support their cost of living.
Source: Barima Kofi Dawson
