The Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations (MLER), through the Fair Wages Commission, has extended an invitation to the leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association Ghana (CETAG) and other key stakeholders for a meeting on Monday, August 19.
The meeting will address the concerns of CETAG members who have been on a nationwide strike for the past two months, which has resulted in a suspension of academic activities across all 46 Colleges of Education in the country.
Among the stakeholders expected at the meeting are the President of CETAG, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Director of Tertiary Education (Ministry of Education), the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), the Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the Head of the Public Financial Management Unit (CPMU).
Background
CETAG members from all 46 Colleges of Education initiated a strike on June 14, in protest against the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award and the agreed-upon service conditions.
Their demands include the payment of one month’s salary to each member for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed rates of allowances, similar to those payable to public universities, to eligible CETAG members.
The strike has completely disrupted academic activities at the colleges, impacting both teaching and learning.
In response, the leadership of the College of Education Students Association has suggested closing the colleges so that students can return home until the issue is resolved.
The government, however, has strongly opposed this suggestion, asserting that progress has been made in negotiations with CETAG and that teaching will resume shortly.
The President of PRINCOF, Prof. Samuel Atintono, has assured the public that they are prepared to adjust the academic calendar to restore normalcy as soon as CETAG members return to their duties.