Teachers return to the classroom

Takoradi, March 14, GNA - Teachers in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis on Monday returned to the classroom after a week strike in protest against the Single Spine Salary Structure. This followed a successful negotiation between the government and the leadership of teacher unions which resulted in 15% retention premium allowance for both professional and non-professional teachers. Most junior and senior high schools that the GNA visited in the metropolis around 0830 hours showed brisk academic work with classrooms filled to capacity by students.

At Bishop Esuah Primary School in Takoradi, some teachers were teaching with full attendance of pupils. The Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education, Nana Kofi Mbeah, said his outfit had had meetings with the executives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers and the National Graduate Association of Teachers over the strike.

He said although all the teachers might not return to school he was optimistic that they would all return by the close of the week. Nana Mbeah noted that they had received complaints from teachers and other Ghana Education Service staff over anomalies in their salaries after they were migrated onto the Single Spine Salary Structure last month.

He said although some of the teachers were not satisfied with the 15 per cent allowance package, since negotiations were still ongoing, they rest of their grievances might be addressed. 14 March 011