A group calling itself Platform for Elite Teachers has opposed the decision by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to embark on a strike;describing it as ”frivolous”.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, the leader of the group, Mr. Propser Puo-Ire said “we do not say that the decision by NAGRAT to embark on a strike doesn’t make sense but we are opposed to the tools that NAGRAT intends to use to have their grievances addressed by government.”
According to Mr. Puo- Ire, the modes the Association is using to have their concerns addressed are quite “frivolous”, considering the fact that students are preparing for their Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE).
“The issues that NAGRAT have raised and perhaps the modes that they intend to use to address the issue are quite frivolous and I think that there could be a better option than going on strike to have those issues addressed.”
He further stated that the intended strike will have a negative repercussions on the performance of students.
“When we go on strike and even our grievances are addressed, we will have to make up for the academic time lost when we return and it puts a lot of strain on the ordinary teacher in the classroom,” he noted.
In that regard, he emphasized the need for teachers to respect the vocation and show more commitment to providing quality education to students in the country.
NAGRAT has threatened to lay down their tools by May 16 if government fails to pay them their 2011/ 2012 increment credit arrears.
According to NAGRAT , government has downplayed it’s outstanding issues of non- payment of the 2011-2012 increment credit arrears, three months arrears payment policy, poor handling of the second Tier pension issues of Ghana Education Service (GES) workers, among others
Offering a solution to the concerns raised by the Association, Mr. Puo-Ire suggested that NAGRAT should engage in lobbying, negotiating and consensus building with government and other major stakeholders to address the problem.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana