Teachers at the various Colleges of Education across the country are gearing up to embark on strike to push for the payment of their outstanding book and research allowance and market premium.
Government in January this year signed an undertaking to pay the teachers who form the Colleges of Education Tutors Association of Ghana (CETAG), the allowances in September 2019.
Though the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the Ministry of Education are said to have signed all the necessary documentation for the payment to be effected, but the Finance Ministry is said to be holding up the process.
This has not gone down well with the teachers who sources within the 46 Colleges nationwide say have threatened to go on strike from September 11, 2019 if government fails to make payment.
When contacted, President of CETAG, Mr Prince Obeng-Himah, will not confirm or deny an impending strike.
“There is uneasy calm in the Colleges and that is very pathetic. Anything at all can happen if the Ministry of Finance does not double up their efforts,” he said.
On October 29, 2018, members of the CETAG withdrew their services after unsuccessful negotiations with the government represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for the Market Premium and Book and Research allowance.
The Colleges were forced to close down by the Ministry of Education on December 1 after four weeks of strike.
However, after a later negation, government agreed to pay the Book and Research allowances in September 2019 and the Market Premium in January 2020.
By 3news.com|Ghana