Government keeps appealing to striking teachers to resume work – Apaak

The government remains committed to persuading striking pre-tertiary teachers to return to work as it strives to resolve their grievances, with thousands of students impacted by the labor action. The teachers have been on strike for roughly two weeks over delayed payments tied to promotions, a proposed allowance for educators serving in underprivileged rural areas, and the renewal of their collective agreement.

This disruption to teaching and learning has led to renewed calls for a swift resolution. Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, affirmed the government's dedication to addressing the teachers' concerns and emphasized that appealing to them to resume work is part of efforts to minimize the strike's impact while negotiations proceed.

Speaking to Citi FM on October 8, 2026, Dr Apaak stated, "It's not a crime to plead." He clarified that the government is not antagonistic nor challenging the teachers' demands, emphasizing that they have not suggested the demands are unjustified. The government's primary concern, according to Dr Apaak, is the interruption to students' education and will continue to appeal to teachers to return to their classrooms while their legitimate concerns are addressed.

He declined to delve into the specifics of the disagreements in negotiations, stating it would be inappropriate to reveal details while discussions are ongoing. However, Dr Apaak expressed optimism that progress would be made, including the processing of overdue promotion-related payments for affected teachers.