The Ghana education service is appealing to parents across de country to remain calm after pre-tertiary teacher union declare nationwide indefinite strike.
Dis was after de teachers decided that enough was enough and would not continue if the government of Ghana would not grant their demands.
In a statement released by the (GES), they advised parents to stay calm and assured to critically look at the situation to know the best way forward.
According to GES PRO, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, they have invited de leadership of de four teacher unions for a meeting to discuss the way forward.
Schools remain open despite strike
Despite de strike action, GES direct head of senior high schools to ensure de safety and wellbeing of all students in de schools.
Meanwhile, they have also directed other Regional and District Directors to keep basic schools opened.
In that same statement, GES said: “Keep basic schools opened and ensure safety of children who will report to school pending further directives from management of GES.”
Teachers are demanding 20% of basic salary
De strike action from four teacher unions, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and de Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT) are demanding 20% of their basic salary to be paid to them.
De teachers gave the government a deadline of June 30the, 2022 to respond to their demands but then initiated their strike on Monday when their demands fell on deaf ears.
The teachers want this 20% basic salary due to the hardship being experienced in Ghana. Ghana is one of the countries with the higher standard of living. This was evidenced when University lecturers went on strike for the same reason.
Thomas Musah, General Secretary of GNAT say, “we cannot bare the hardship, we are rejecting the inequality of salaries in public services of the country.”
“We are informing the public of our intention to go on strike after we passed de June 30, 2022, deadline we gave the government” he added.
“Because of this, we are embarking on an indefinite strike” he said this during a press conference to announce their decision.