The Constituency Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Offinso South, Sumaila Zakari Abidal has advised government to as a matter of urgency go on to the negotiations table with the College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to address the various concerns and demands over the payment of their market premium, book and research allowance and stop the lukewarm attitude and the attitude of "I don't care".

In a press statement, the constituency Youth Organiser, Sumaila Abidal has stated the difficulties parents and students face during this strike actions.

Below is the statement

Gov't must stop the lukewarm attitude and the "I don't care" attitude on the CETAG strike

As a young teacher and a youth in the country, I am appalled by the government's neglect of concerns and demands by the College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) over the payment of their market premium, book and research allowances.

As I speak, CETAG is on strike after three months of unsuccessful negotiations with the government to have their concerns addressed and the decision has affected all the forty-six public Colleges of Education in the country.

My concern about their strike is the innocent students suffering under their strike action. Our dear brothers and sisters in the various colleges have been abandoned and no one cares about them since those to monitor and coach them are striking since 29th of October, 2018 they reported to school.
It saddened my heart because their life is at risk which government must not look down upon with their "we don't care" attitude.

Why am I saying their life is at risk?
First of all , we were in this country when a third year student was stabbed by an armed robber for going out at night, and now that our brothers and sisters have been left unconcerned on campus, who knows what will happen tomorrow? We're not calling for doom but we are creating awareness for the general public to also showcase their concerns as far as this issue is concern in order for the government to know how important it is to address the CETAG problems.

I am therefore appealing and advising the government to sit down with these lecturers and address their demands and concerns or to come to a consensus with them and halt the lukewarm attitude it has exhibited from the onset.

Again, the government must act fast because whenever there is a strike like this, it is the parents and the students who suffer in the sense that, the normal instructional hours will be wasted and the little time left is what the lecturers are going to use to complete their course outline so when it happens this way, the slow learners suffer and even affect the brilliant ones with their GPA.

On the other hand, parents are also cheated since the fees of the students are not going to be reduced because of the strike action.
I am appealing to the government to solve this issue with the lecturers amicably because of the aforementioned reasons.

To conclude, the government must show concern about our brothers and sisters who are now in school.

Their right to protection must be ensured because this trainee teachers must not be taking for granted as far as nation building is concerned as far as achieving quality of education in our dear country.
Signed
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Sumaila Zakari a.k.a Abidal
DCYO Offinso south
0242883482