"Ultimatum by Students' Union is Unrealistic" - Minister

Accra The Minister of Education, Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama, has told the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) that its one week ultimatum to the government over the polytechnic teachers' strike was uncalled for. Speaking to the NUGS executive at her office in Accra, the Minister said she was surprised by the union's press conference because the problem of the Polytechnic teachers is "at a very advanced stage of being resolved", adding, "the teachers should have even gone to the classroom". Dr Amoako-Nuama explained that when the teachers demanded improved service conditions, they were asked to submit a draft proposal while the ministry was to produce a counter proposal to enable the two parties to sit and negotiate.

She said the teachers complied with the directive and her ministry sent the counter proposal before the teachers' deadline to allow negotiations to begin, but the teachers insisted on a scheme of service for polytechnic teachers. She said this demand was accepted by the sector ministry adding that April 30 has already been set for the negotiations which involve her ministry, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and the Polytechnic Teachers' Association. The Minister said the student body, knowing that the teachers' problem was being handled by the sector ministry, it should have at least enquired from that sector to be informed of the state of affairs.