Nkawkaw (ER), Dec. 3, GNA - The National Association of

Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), has threatened to embark on an

indefinite nation-wide strike at the end of this month. The National Vice-Chairman of the Association, Mr Eric Carbonu,

who announced this, explained that the group would take any such

action if the Fare Wages Commission fails to place teachers on

Principal Superintendent Grade at level 16 as against level 14 being

proposed by the Commission. He was speaking at the Eastern Regional rally for graduate teachers

from New Abirem/Nkawkaw and Kwahu zones, to explain teacher's

placement on the Single Spine Salary Structure, at Nkawkaw on Friday. Mr Carbonu said that most teachers in the Principal Superintendent

Grades were already on level 14 and it would a disadvantage to place

them on that level due to poor job evaluation. He called for the re-evaluation of teachers to place them on the

proper level. Mr Carbonu said that the work of teachers was not only restricted

to the classroom, which was used to evaluate them. He said that they also prepare teaching and learning materials and

continuous assessment, keep records, mark examination scripts and

classroom exercises and supervise sporting and entertainment

activities. The New Abirem/Nkawkaw zonal chairman of, Mr Osei Ampong,

said that non-teaching staff such as accountants and bursars with

Higher National Diploma have been moved from level 12 to level 16

while Police Sergeants with "less academic qualification" would receive

higher salary than the graduate teacher.