By: Maame Efua Kwaduah
A coalition of concerned teacher trainees in the Ashanti Region is calling for the temporary closure of the 46 colleges of education nationwide due to the ongoing strike by their tutors.
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) began its strike on June 14, following the government’s failure to honor its commitment to implement outstanding compulsory arbitration awards.
The teachers’ boycott has left classrooms across the country empty and severely disrupted academic progress.
Convenor of the coalition of concerned teacher trainees, Manuel Opoku Duah said CETAG’s strike is significantly affecting their academic advancement and mental health.
According to him, they are uncertain whether to remain on campus or return home, facing a stalled academic trajectory and increasing financial stress.
He revealed that the situation is jeopardizing their future careers as qualified teachers and impacting their overall well-being.
The coalition has demanded the temporary closure of the Colleges of Education for students to return home, given that there has been no interaction with teachers for over 21 days.
They suggested implementing the IN-IN-OUT system to allow level 400 trainees return to campus, as many of their tenancy agreements are set to expire in October noting that the ongoing uncertainty is becoming increasingly burdensome for them.
Additionally, students expressed concern about the non-payment of six months’ trainee allowances, which are crucial for covering their living expenses.