Students raise concerns over intended teachers’ strike

Students raise concerns over intended teachers’ strike Concerns are being raised over the negative impact the intended strike action will have on students especially on candidates sitting the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), staring this month. Some examination candidates and Administrators who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed fears that they may not be ready for the all-important examinations if the intended industrial actions are carried out. "We have only a few days to the start of the examinations. We need them to help us to revise since we have got little time. Our teachers are our mentors and we need them most now. We would like to urge the government to address whatever problems they have so they can remain in the classroom and teach,” said Ashraf Ayaba, Students Representative Council President of Bawku Senior High School who spoke to the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the launch of 50th anniversary celebration of the school. Another student Ruhaha Atubiga said students will suffer immensely if there are no teachers in the classrooms to take us through our final days adding that this is not the time for them to go on strike. An Assistant Headmaster of Zebilla Senior High School, Mr. Richard Akumbas said if something is not dome immediately to resolve the problem, the action strike might affect both the internal and external examinations due to be held later this month. He stressed the need for normalcy to be restored in order not to disrupt the academic calendar. The Upper East Regional Director of Education, Mr. Paul Apanga was optimistic that with a number of consultation and meetings lined up with the leadership of teachers, the issue should be resolved very fast for the sake of the child. He said he has met with the various Municipal and District Directors of Education and discussed with them alternative arrangements to be reactivated to handle the problem should the negotiations prolong. This include, deploying National Service Personnel and other capable academic staff working in various offices into the field to assist with some aspects of supervision of both internal and external examinations, while negotiations with teachers continue. Teachers in the first and second-cycle schools have decided to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from Monday, March 18, 2012. However a statement signed by the Ministry of Information and Media Relations, Mr. Mahama Ayariga said government is concerned about the decision of the GNAT and NAGRAT to embark on an indefinite strike when senior high schools students writing the WASSCE have started and pupils in basic schools are preparing to write BECE. A meeting was therefore scheduled for Sunday, March 17, 2013 at the Flagstaff House to find amicable solutions to problems raised by the two unions. -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh