Address concerns of education unions on strike to avoid obvious consequences – Dr. Apaak to Govt

The deputy ranking member on the Education Committee in Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak has urged the government to address the concerns of Teacher and Education Workers Union and others currently on strike.

The Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU) National Executive Council has announced a strike commencing on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

Recent past strike actions by the Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU)  and Pre Tertiary Teachers Unions destabilized the academic calendrers and caused several avoidable challenges. The call on government to take proactive steps not to allow the strike to go on as planned is a call in the right direction from stakeholders of education.

The current grievances of the Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU) align with those of the Senior Staff Association and University Administrators, currently in their third week of striking.

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In addition to seeking the reversal of a directive from the Ghana Technical Education Council to suspend overtime and extra duty allowances, TEWU is also pressing for the government to disburse 9 months’ worth of their tier two pensions to their fund managers.

Furthermore, TEWU-GH is urging the government to streamline a vehicle maintenance allowance, which they claim is burdened with complications.

Commenting on the development, the Builsa South lawmaker stated that with the over ten thousand members on various unions on strike work at public universities will not be the best.

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The government has been called upon to take proactive steps to prevent a prolonged strike from taking place.

“With the over ten thousand members of the Teachers and Education Workers Union joining members of the Senior Staff Association, and the Ghana Association of University Administrators already on strike, work in our public universities will come to a halt.

“We urge the government to address the concerns of these unions, urgently, to prevent the obvious consequences, including disruptions of the academic calendar,” the Deputy Ranking Member, Education Committee of Parliament stated in brief statement.

Dangers of prolonged strike actions by university lectures

Disruption of academic calendar:

Prolonged strikes can lead to a significant disruption of the academic calendar, forcing universities to compress semesters, cancel classes, or even delay graduation for students. This can have a snowball effect, causing further disruptions in future semesters as well.

Financial hardship for students:

Many students rely on part-time jobs or internships during the academic year to make ends meet. Prolonged strikes can force them to lose income or take on additional debt to cover their expenses.

Reduced quality of education:

When lecturers are on strike, students may miss out on important lectures, discussions, and lab work. This can lead to a lower quality of education and make it more difficult for students to succeed in their studies.

Increased stress and anxiety for students:

The uncertainty and disruption caused by prolonged strikes can be a major source of stress and anxiety for students. This can lead to a decline in mental health and well-being, and can also make it more difficult for students to focus on their studies.

Damage to the reputation of universities

Prolonged strikes can damage the reputation of universities, making them less attractive to prospective students and faculty. This can lead to a decline in enrollment and research funding, which can further exacerbate the problems that led to the strike in the first place.

Loss of income for lecturers:

While lecturers may be willing to make some sacrifices to achieve their goals, prolonged strikes can also lead to significant financial hardship for them. This can put a strain on their families and make it difficult for them to make ends meet.

Source: Today.com.gh