NAGRAT should consider their decision

It has come to a point where bargaining power issues and condition of service matters are threating our growing democratic country.
First of all, we must all appreciate our teachers’ efforts in helping build a better Ghana. Most of us are where we are today because of the sacrifices of our dear teachers who sacrificed their life, time and effort to educate us all in the interest of our dear nation .
However care must be taken not to use the strategic role that teachers play in our economy as a "blackmailing tool" .
Despite repeated calls by civil society, chiefs and eventually our President, NAGRAT memebrs have refused to go back to the classroom. Among “NAGRAT” s grievances are :
1. All outstanding grievances on which memoranda of understanding been signed be implemented by September 1st, 2006.
2. Government review salaries of workers especially that of teachers by September 1st, 2006.
3. The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service be replaced by September 1st, 2006 since his compulsory retirement was due last year”.
In as much as I believe these are genuine concerns raised by “NAGRAT”, I am of the view that government is doing something about the issues raised. With regards to the Director – General for example ; I am in the know that he has been engaged in a contract until a substantive one is appointed. Are the groups of teachers saying that they are not aware of the prevailing circumstances? These are some of the questions we should be asking “NAGRAT” since they seem to make a big issue about the Director-General’s tenure.
On the other issues, Nagrat must follow the negotiation rules and desist from incessant break in labour laws established by an Act of Parliament. We have children, cousins and relatives who are in various institutions studying and while this strike is ongoing, they are the losers.
In this regard, I therefore want to urge the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to look for short term solutions to this problem in order not to let the students loose their sense of focus in relation to their studies in their various schools.
If “NAGRAT” at this stage will want to compare themselves with Health Professionals then we should all be careful as to the kind of argument we are putting across.
Inasmuch as I sympathise with the “NAGRAT” members, they should also bear in mind that, if they have the nation which we are trying to build at heart, then their decision should be re-considered reason being that within the last 6 years or so till date salaries have been increased enormously. ALL THE BEST.

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