Gov’t shuts down Colleges of Education

The National Council for Tertiary Education(NCTE) has directed the closure of all Colleges of Education over a protracted labour dispute between the teachers and government.

According to regulations, the school must shut down if academic work is impeded for 21 consecutive days.

The strike by Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) began October 29 and has crossed the 21 days.

But students remained on campus until a formal announcement was made.

That announcement has been made after GES directed all 46 Colleges of Education to release students and shut down the school, The Ghana Education Service PRO Ekow Vincent Assafuah confirmed on Joy Prime Friday.

”Untill we are able to resolve the strike, the students would have to stay home”, he said.

CETAG has been on an indefinite strike over the payment of their interim market premium and their Book and Research allowances.

The teachers said they remain the only category of tertiary education instructors who do not enjoy market premium and book and research allowance.

Peace-broker, the National Labour Commission failed to settle the disagreement between the two parties at a Thursday meeting.

The government refused to pay their November salaries insisting their strike is illegal. The salary freeze angered CETAG which vowed to continue with their strike.

“…unless the issue of the frozen salary is settled we will not sit down to have any discussion with any government agency,” President of CETAG Prince Obeng-Himah told Joy News Wednesday.