Teacher unions suspends planned demonstration after meeting with Education Minister

The leadership of pre-tertiary teacher unions has suspended its decision to embark on a demonstration on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in the Greater Accra region to register their displeasure over worrying concerns in the education sector.

The suspended demonstration references a press release dated August 27, 2024, in which they highlighted several unresolved issues by the central government from the Collective Agreement signed on May 24, 2024.

These included the initiation of negotiations on the Deprived Area Allowance within one month of signing the agreement, as well as the resolution of promotions from Deputy Director (DD) to Director II (DII) and Director I (DI) by September 2024.

The unions also expressed concerns over other challenges, such as 12 months of arrears for their Tier-2 pension deductions and issues with the Public Services Commission (PSC), including delays in upgrading, difficulties in reinstatement, and rank reductions.

But unions after hours of discussions on September 30, with Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES) say they have suspended theTuesday demonstration.

Per a CitiNews report sighted by GhanaEducation.org, the Minister in Charge of Education at the hour-long meeting addressed the concerns raised by the teacher unions including issues of allowances for teachers.

Dr. Adutwum, the report said presented documents from the Ministry of Education showing that preparations were underway for payment, following data validation by the GES and approval by the Ministry of Finance.

The Minister also informed the unions that the government had fulfilled its promise to increase the Continous Professional Development Allowance (PDA) by 100%. He confirmed that payments had been effected in September.

Present at the meeting were representatives from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-GH), and the management of the GES.

The pre-tertiary teacher unions following the meeting, has urged their members to refrain from participating in the planned demonstration, assuring them that their grievances were being satisfactorily addressed.