CETAG Strike Update: Union Insists on Full Payment Before Suspending Strike
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has given a fresh update on its ongoing strike action. The President of CETAG, Mr. Maxwell Bunu, spoke about the situation during an interview on Channel One TV. His comments have brought some clarity to students, lecturers, and other stakeholders who are closely following the strike.
According to Mr. Bunu, CETAG will only suspend its strike after the GH₵41 million approved by the government is fully credited into the accounts of its members. He explained that the union wants to be sure that the money has been paid before taking any step to end the strike. This decision, he said, is based on past experiences where promises were made but payments were delayed.
Mr. Bunu acknowledged the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Education for trying to resolve the issue. He praised the Minister for engaging CETAG and working towards releasing the funds. However, he stressed that appreciation alone is not enough. The union believes that the best way to protect the interest of its members is to wait until the money is received before suspending the strike.
The CETAG strike has affected academic activities in many Colleges of Education across Ghana. Since the strike began, many teacher trainees have been staying on campus or at home without lectures. Some students are worried about how the strike may affect their academic progress, semester schedules, and examination dates. Others are concerned about how long it may take for normal teaching and learning to resume.
Speaking about what will happen after the strike is called off, Mr. Bunu assured students that CETAG is ready to support academic recovery plans. He explained that once lecturers resume duty, CETAG will work together with the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) to reassess and adjust the academic calendar. The goal is to make sure that students do not lose important academic content.
He added that new teaching strategies may be introduced to help cover the lost time. Lectures may be organized during both daytime and evening hours if necessary. This means students may have extended learning hours to help complete their courses. Mr. Bunu also mentioned that supplementary online learning sessions may be introduced to support face-to-face teaching. These online sessions will help lecturers cover more topics and ensure that students fully understand their lessons.
Mr. Bunu assured students that CETAG understands their concerns and is committed to ensuring that they receive quality education. He explained that the strike is not meant to harm students but to push for the rights and welfare of lecturers. According to him, when lecturers are treated fairly and paid what they deserve, it helps improve teaching and learning in Colleges of Education.
Many education stakeholders, including students, parents, and school authorities, are hoping that the government will release the funds soon. They believe that early payment will help bring the strike to an end and allow academic work to continue smoothly. Some teacher trainees have also expressed hope that once lectures resume, proper plans will be put in place to help them catch up with lost academic time.
The ongoing strike has once again highlighted the challenges within Ghana’s education sector. Issues related to payment delays, working conditions, and academic scheduling continue to affect teaching and learning. Many people believe that finding long-term solutions to these challenges will help prevent frequent strike actions in the future.
For now, CETAG members remain on strike until the approved GH₵41 million is fully paid into their accounts. The union maintains that this is the only condition that will lead to the suspension of the strike. Students and college authorities continue to wait for further updates as discussions between CETAG and the government continue.
As the situation develops, students are advised to stay calm and stay updated through official school communication channels. They should also be prepared to return to lectures once the strike is suspended and academic activities resume.
More updates are expected in the coming days as stakeholders continue to work towards resolving the issue. Students and lecturers across the country remain hopeful that a final solution will be reached soon so that normal academic activities can continue without further interruptions.
Stay tuned for more updates.
