Teachers’ strike: Final-year SHS students worry over lost learning time and WASSCE preparation
With little or no academic instruction, final-year senior high students are particularly worried about lost learning time as the nationwide teachers’ strike continues.
Final-year senior high school students in Kumasi are growing increasingly concerned about the loss of learning time and their preparation for the WASSCE examinations due to the ongoing nationwide teachers' strike. The strike, initiated by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) on September 25, 2026, centers on issues such as the promotion of teachers to new salary levels and conditions of service negotiations. Despite several attempts at resolving the dispute, no resolution has been reached thus far.
The strike has left students with little or no academic instruction, resulting in a routine of sitting in classrooms for hours without any lessons. One Form Three student at Prempeh College expressed frustration about the lack of work and the inability to cover the syllabus before the WASSCE begins. Many students spend most of their school day waiting, with teachers absent and limited time to prepare academically.
Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds face an unequal impact of the strike, as those who cannot afford extra classes risk falling further behind. To keep students occupied and safe, school authorities have resorted to organising activities under Freshers Week for newly admitted students. These activities, while providing structured engagement and social interaction, cannot fully replace the absence of regular teaching. Students acknowledge that such initiatives are not a substitute for their teachers.
The government has called on the unions to suspend the strike, but discussions to resume classroom instruction are ongoing. Students hope for a swift resolution to the negotiations, emphasizing that their primary concern is not boredom but the cumulative effect of lost instructional time. Until teachers return to their classrooms, school authorities are left to maintain order and keep students engaged through various activities, hoping that a resolution will be reached soon.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
