The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) has called the bluff of the Ministry of Education over threats of a likely freeze of their salaries.<\/p>\n
POTAG has blamed their prolonged strike on government\u2019s poor management of the issues involved.<\/p>\n
Polytechnic teachers have been on strike for months in demand for the payment of their book and research allowance.<\/p>\n
The strike disrupted academic activities which forced authorities of the various polytechnics to close down the institutions.<\/p>\n
Government has given indications it will pay the said allowances but a Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has hinted that the Ministry may have to freeze the salaries of POTAG members to compel them to call off their strike.<\/p>\n
In response to this threat by the Ministry, the General Secretary of POTAG, Adamu Ibrahim said Mr. Ablakwa has no moral right to issue such a threat.<\/p>\n
He described the statement as \u201cunfortunate\u201d insisting that, the Ministry \u201chas not handled this issue responsibly\u201d which has prolonged the strike.<\/p>\n
According to him, POTAG members will not return to the classroom despite the threats from the Deputy Minister.<\/p>\n
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) joined their colleague POTAG members by withdrawing their services.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been over two weeks since UTAG also declared an indefinite strike over their book and research allowance.<\/span><\/p>\n This among other issues has led to the postponement of the re-opening date of the University for Cape Coast.<\/p>\n However, the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana is hopeful their lecturers will suspend their industrial action before school re-opens on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The President of the University of Ghana\u2019s SRC President, Joshua Dogbe believes their talks with UTAG will yield positive results.<\/p>\n Dogbe disclosed that the SRC has been in talks with the school authorities over the matter.<\/p>\n According to him, stakeholder meetings of this nature \u201cinvolve discussions between major stakeholders in the education sector so we will have to follow due processes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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