Academic activities in the country’s 38 Colleges of Education are likely to grind to a halt in September this year, following a threat by the Colleges of Education Tutors Association of Ghana (CETAG), to strike over government’s delay in migrating them onto the required tertiary tutor status.
Government in 2004 upgraded all Teacher Training Colleges to a tertiary status, under the Colleges of Education ACT 847. As part of the processes, tutors of the colleges are to see an upgrade in their status to correspond with their counterparts in the universities and polytechnics.
[contextly_sidebar id=”krX0K7FlgmO8xsESS8kz5j4qsUEpg0FM”]The association has noted that, the slow pace of the process might among others affect their salaries and fringe benefits.
In an interview with Citi News, the National Secretary of CETAG, Prince Obeng – Himah, indicated that their endurance has been overstretched after years of waiting, hence their decision to embark on a strike at the beginning of September when the Colleges of Education reopen.
“This is unduly delaying because we looked at the protest that started in 2004 and the journey to the full tertiary status of the colleges. Almost all aspects have been fulfilled except the migration of the tutor to where he or she is supposed to be placed.”
“It becomes a source of worry to the members. It is not about salaries, it is about placement. It is about doing what the law says. It is about placing us where we are supposed to be placed and recognizing us as such because we are members of the tertiary, that is the first point. Place us there and all other things you call salaries, all other things you call allowances will take care of themselves,” she stated.
Agitations among teachers
Several teachers have for sometime now been threatening to embark on a series of demonstrations to press home their demands for payment of either salary arrears or allowances.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana