The leadership of the Coalition of Aggrieved Teacher Union Members (CATUM) has indicated that The Teachers Declared Strike Action is “Selfish” as it focuses on a minor issue that confronts the teaching profession, teachers, and students.
In a press statement copied to Ghana Education News, it said…“The leadership of the Coalition of Aggrieved Teacher Union Members also wants to express a gross disappointment in the time and period for the declaration of the industrial action since it’s closer to the examination period as far as the academic calendar is concerned.”
CATUM in its press release titled “We are not quitting the strike until the needful is done” and copied to Ghana Education News said The Coalition of Aggrieved Teacher Union Members (CATUM) while happy with the strike action declared by the teacher unions, disapproved of the timing citing the closeness of the strike to the examination period for candidates.
It was however hopeful that the strike action will be firmer and tighter despite all excuses of students’ liking to write examinations offered us without the implementation of the demands.
It added that the reasons for calling the strike action make the four unions more “selfish” as there are more pressing issues that confront the profession compared to the non-payment of the cost of living allowance (COLA)
“We are laying it straight to the teacher unions authorities that the demand projected for the current industrial action (Strike) remains minor among the several challenges confronting the teaching profession.”
“It makes the professionals sound to be “selfish” in the public domain without placing the wellbeing of our learners on priority.”
It, however, believes the above does not make the steps taken by the unions irrelevant either.
“We, therefore, want to remind the government, the leadership of teacher unions, parents of the wards we teach, about the hundreds of dying challenges killing the education system in the country.”
It added that the CATUM remains united with the other unions to fight for the beauty of the teaching profession and the learners.
According to the union, there have been three years of teaching without. It called on the government and all stakeholders to ensure there is an accurate output of work through the implementation of policies and agreements captured in the new Collective Agreement, which takes effect in 2023.
It also lamented the lack of certified textbooks for schools for the benefit of teachers and learners, no or limited computers for digital literacy lessons which have forced learners to practice basic computing skills in the air, teachers drawing spreadsheets on the boards, and others that deny students the practical aspect of their lessons.
READ: We are not quitting the strike until the needful is done – CATUM to GES
It also indicated that the continuous operation of classrooms under trees and the poor conditions of work for teachers leaves much to be desired, even though there exists a collective agreement between teachers and the government.
Full Press Release…
