Teachers’ strike: Government has funds, but processes are causing delays – Education Committee Vice Chair

Parliament’s Education Committee Vice Chair, Joseph Kumah, has stated that the government holds sufficient funds to fulfill its financial commitments to teachers, but administrative processes are causing delays in settling outstanding payments. During a discussion on Joy FM’s Top Story on October 6, Mr Kumah revealed that the Education Committee has been keeping a watchful eye on the ongoing dispute between the government and pre-tertiary teacher unions, actively working to find a resolution to the impasse.

The main concerns raised by the unions involve issues such as the 20% allowance for areas with higher poverty rates and arrears in teacher promotions. These problems, according to Mr Kumah, are largely linked to administrative processes like uploading and validating data. He affirmed that there is indeed financial availability to compensate the teachers but the issue lies with the processes in place.

The collective bargaining agreement is another key topic under discussion, and talks are ongoing regarding aspects like the management allowance, continuous professional development allowance, and digital allowance. The Education Committee acknowledges the teachers' concerns and believes they are entitled to the promises made to them. Mr Kumah urged the striking teachers to consider the consequences of their absence from classrooms, especially as the industrial action is affecting teaching and learning nationwide.

He appealed to the teachers to weigh the impact of their continued absence on students. The committee remains committed to monitoring the situation and interacting with the relevant institutions, while acknowledging the roles of the Ministry of Education and other agencies responsible for the negotiations.

Mr Kumah also mentioned an assurance from Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who promised that all outstanding promotion arrears would be paid by October 30. Parliament will continue to keep track of the government's promises and intervene if necessary to address the concerns of both parties. His comments come after renewed negotiations between the teacher unions, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Ghana Education Service, as efforts persist in resolving the nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teachers.