[ 2017-11-14 ]

CEDTAG Strike action leaves colleges of education deserted
Two weeks ago, teachers of all 38 Colleges of
Education across the country laid down their
tools.

Their demands were for government to pay
incremental salary arrears owed them since October
2012 when the schools were elevated to tertiary
status following the passage of the Colleges of
Education Act 847 in 2012.

When Ultimate News visited the Wesley College of
Education (WESCO) at Suame Roundabout in Kumasi,
the effects of the strike action was biting.
Classes were empty with no academic work ongoing
as students were seen roaming about and chatting
in groups.
The only busy area was the school’s
administration block where final year students
were gathered to collect their feeding grant
reimbursements.
For the third years doing their practical teaching
as mentees, they could not be bothered but the
eight hundred first year and second year students
are bearing the brunt.
The students will not speak to Ultimate News
reporters because their student leaders and school
authorities had warned them not to.
A Students Representative Council (SRC) executive
whom Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador
interacted with off record, was worried the strike
action has seriously affected the academic time
table of the students.
He told Ultimate News, Quizzes that students have
to write have all been kept on hold.
A level hundred student was also worried freshmen
have been left in the wilderness not knowing how
they will write their first semester exams in
January next year.
He indicated that the only news they had gathered
from the school authorities was that all their
quizzes which had been delayed will begin a day
after the teachers resume from their indefinite
strike.
The situation was no different in the St Louis
College of Education at Mbrom. The only difference
was that students were not roaming about.
The school’s Vice Principal who was spotted
standing on the balconies of the administration
ensuring some level of sanity on campus told
Ultimate News the students were doing their own
private studies.
He however confirmed that none of the teachers or
tutors had turned up in the school to teach.
The school’s Principal just like that of the
Wesley College of Education were all away for an
annual heads of colleges of education workshop
outside the metropolis.
It appears the students would have to endure this
trend a while longer until government finds it
needful and necessary to resolve the demands and
grievances of lecturers of Colleges of Education.

Source - ultimatefmonline.com

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