The Students’ Representative Councils (SRC) of the various polytechnics have expressed their displeasure over the failure of government and the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) to re-open the schools after nearly three months of negotiations.<\/p>\n
POTAG, in May, embarked on a strike<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>, due to what it describes as government\u2019s failure to pay them their book and research allowance.<\/p>\n Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show<\/b>, the SRC leader of Kumasi Polytechnic, Benjamin Kodjo Sakyi confirmed that lecturers of various polytechnics had been on strike for about 131 days saying \u201cthey declared a strike on 15 May, so three months now, four days since our teachers went on strike\u201d<\/p>\n He described the decision as \u201cunfortunate\u201d, adding that students have been battling with academic challenges since their lecturers embarked on a strike.<\/p>\n \u201cSince POTAG declared a strike, it has not been easy for students especially the final year and continuing ones,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He noted some of the polytechnic students are confused as to whether to embark on their industrial attachment or not, adding that “those embarking on their attachment have lost concentration” due to the impasse.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the final years, theirs is very serious because their project work is hanging and they don\u2019t know what to do,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mr. Sakyi also said \u201csince they declared the strike, the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) have met to “compel both parties to come into a consensus in order to resolve this issue amicably for us to come back to our lecture halls.”<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been embarking on a series of demonstrations against the government to compel it to make a commitment for POTAG to call of the strike,\u201dhe added.<\/p>\n He was however quick to add that POTAG started making new demands after government had resolved to meet the concerns the Association initially raised.<\/p>\n \u201c Later on when government showed the commitment that it is willing to pay the Book and Research allowance for this year, POTAG changed their stance that they want to be paid in the current dollar rate,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n He said about 70,000 students have been home since the strike, adding that students’ future \u00a0will be in “jeopardy” if the problem is not resolved.<\/p>\n Meanwhile the President of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic SRC, Ayuba Abdul Rakman says government and POTAG have remained adamant though students have called on POTAG and government to resolve the matter.<\/p>\n He said the academic year can be \u201csalvaged\u201d if measures are taken to resolve the problem.<\/p>\n A student from the Tamale Polytechnic, Adam Baba said there is currently \u201cno academic work going on\u201d in \u00a0the school.<\/p>\n He said the school is empty since students have left for their respective homes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Marian Efe Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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