Gov’t outlines measures to address concerns of striking teacher unions

The government has announced a number of measures aimed at addressing concerns raised by striking teacher unions following a meeting between the unions and the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu.

According to the Ministry of Education, the measures are intended to address outstanding issues relating to teachers’ conditions of service, deprived-area allowances and the payment of salaries and arrears owed to promoted teachers.

As part of the measures, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is expected to meet representatives of the teacher unions on Tuesday, October 6, to discuss their collective agreement and conditions of service.

The Education Ministry also said a committee chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment has been established to validate data relating to the government’s commitment to introduce a 20% deprived-area allowance effective January 2027.

The allowance has been one of the issues raised by the teacher unions as part of their demands.

The government has also directed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to submit data on teachers who have been promoted to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department by the end of the week.

The submission is expected to facilitate the payment of salaries and arrears owed to teachers whose promotions have been effected.

The government’s latest measures come after the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) declared an industrial action over outstanding promotion arrears and unresolved issues concerning their conditions of service.

Despite the measures announced by the government, the striking teacher unions have rejected calls to return to the classroom.

Following their meeting with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, the unions maintained that they would continue the strike until they saw concrete action on their outstanding demands.

The unions have indicated that assurances from government are no longer sufficient and that they expect outstanding salaries and arrears to reflect on teachers’ payslips and be credited to their accounts before they consider ending the industrial action.

The latest development leaves the dispute unresolved, although the government says the measures announced are intended to address some of the key concerns raised by the unions.

Further discussions between the unions and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on October 6 are expected to focus on their collective agreement and conditions of service.