Students express frustration as CETAG strike continues

Academic activities at the various public colleges of education have come to a halt as the strike by College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) nears day 21.

With no resolution in sight, students have been left in limbo and continue to face the challenges and uncertainties brought by the prolonged strike.

At the Accra College of Education, most students have left to the house and the few of them there say they are learning in preparation towards their examination even though they haven’t received any formal communique from the school.

“The strike is really affecting us negatively because there is no teaching and learning on campus, it is we the students that are just learning on our own. According to the academic calendar, we are supposed to start our exam next month.” Olivia expressed her grievance.

“This strike has really cost us a lot because the teachers have to come and teach us the things, we don’t understand but we also have to stay on campus because at the end of the day, we have exam to write.” Julius also explained.

“Lessons started only on the first week and since then we’ve been in school for almost four or five weeks now, no lecturers around, we are just learning on our own. Some have gone home so you can see that there aren’t a lot of people around.” Fatima intimated.

“Most of us are struggling with some things we don’t understand, and we are to learn it by ourselves. We are pleading with the government to help us, listen to our lecturers and provide all their needs to them so that we can also help ourselves learn and achieve our aims.” Theo Nora pleaded.

 

The student Representative Council (SRC) President of the Accra College of Education Richmond Adjei says the prolonged strike has increased accommodation costs for the level 400 students.

“Some of the level 300 students are assisting them to take their studies in the lecture halls. As I speak, we are having challenges with our food, we are on campus and the food we are eating is not enough for the students and so we are spending money budgeted for the semester. We had a policy where level 400 students are expected to be outside the campus where level 300 to 100 will be on campus. Now that the strike is on, it means that the month for our rent will be increased somewhere October or November, so it is actually incurring a cost on the level 400’s.

CETAG embarked on a strike on Friday, June 14, over what members say is government’s failure to implement the National Labour Commission (NLC)’s Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.

According to the President of CETAG, a recent meeting with government stakeholders failed to reach a consensus.

They now await a court hearing on July 18, where the government must provide evidence of compliance. He added that the court will determine the way forward.

As students bear the brunt of the strike, CETAG members remain resolute in their cause, urging the government to act promptly.

The post Students express frustration as CETAG strike continues first appeared on 3News.

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