Education Minister visits schools to assess situation after teachers' strike

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has visited the Osu Cluster of Schools to assess the resumption of teaching and learning following the decision by teacher unions to call off their strike.

Accompanied by Deputy Minister of Education Dr Clement Apaak, the visit was aimed at establishing whether teachers had returned to the classroom after suspending the industrial action.

Speaking during the visit, Mr Iddrisu said the government remained committed to addressing the outstanding concerns of teachers while ensuring that academic activities continued without further disruption.

"Myself and the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, are here to assess whether the teachers have really returned to school after calling off the strike," he said.

Mr Iddrisu disclosed that the government had assured teachers that promotion allowances would be paid to about 51,000 teachers by September 16, while other outstanding concerns would be addressed.

"We have promised the teachers that by September 16, some 51,000 of them will be paid their promotion allowances, while the rest of the outstanding issues will be addressed," he stated.

The minister also emphasised the importance of maintaining the academic calendar, noting that its alignment with the university calendar was expected to benefit schools and promote continuity in the education system.

"We will also ensure that the academic calendar, which for the first time in a long while is aligned with that of the universities, will help the schools," he said.

Mr Iddrisu further commended the leadership of the teacher unions for calling off the strike, describing the decision as an opportunity for the government to address their grievances.

"We want to congratulate the leadership of the teacher unions for their understanding and for calling off the strike to allow the government to proceed with addressing their grievances," he added.

The government is expected to continue engaging the teacher unions to resolve the outstanding issues and ensure that teaching and learning proceed without further disruption.