The Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana on 29th July, 2024 at Accra College of Education held a Press Conference to address pertinent issues affecting all teacher trainees across the 46 public Colleges of Education across Ghana. The leadership of the association addressed the media on the ongoing strike action by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) which start on 14th June, 2024. They also addressed the state of teacher trainees’ allowances, infrastructural deficit across the colleges of education among other issues. We bring to you an overview of the press conference

1. Background

The Colleges of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG) initiated an industrial strike on 14th June, 2024 due to the Government’s failure to honour the arbitrary awards granted to CETAG by the National Labour Commission. Since the commencement of the strike, TTAG has been actively engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that CETAG’s demands are met for the tutors to resume their classroom activities. We have held discussions with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Minister for Education, the Director for Tertiary Education and the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education in our pursuit to resolve the CETAG strike.

Despite receiving numerous assurances from the Government that the tutors’ demands will be addressed to end the strike, it is almost two months since the strike began, with no concrete indications of its resolution. Therefore, the Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG) representing almost seventy thousand (70,000) Teacher Trainees from the forty-six (46) public Colleges of Education in Ghana convenes this press conference to address this pressing issue alongside other challenges that Teacher Trainees encounter in Colleges of Education.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, it would interest you to note that this is not the first instance where the Colleges of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG) has resorted to a prolonged strike. We vividly recall a similar occurrence in November, 2022 and in August, 2023, which led to numerous students deferring their courses. We are fully aware of its consequences on students and so it is imperative that we avoid a repetition of this distressing scenario.   

2. CETAG Strike and Its Devastating Impact 

The nationwide strike by CETAG, which commenced on 14th June, 2024 and persists to this very day, has paralyzed the teacher education system. This prolonged disruption has precipitated a critical crisis, jeopardizing the future of thousands of aspiring educators.

The strike has left Teacher Trainees in a state of uncertainty, with their academic progress halted and their future prospects hanging in the balance. The Government has failed to provide clear communication regarding the resumption of academic activities or a clear path forward. 

2.1. Uncertainty Regarding the end-of-semester examination: Teacher Trainees do not know whether they will be required to sit for examinations for a semester marked by no class attendance or if they will need to prepare for exams amidst the strike. Also, the level 400 Teacher Trainees do not when they will complete College as a result of the ongoing strike. 

2.2. Financial Burden on Level 400 Students: The strike has imposed immense pressure and financial strain on all Teacher Trainees, especially the level 400 Teacher Trainees. Many have been compelled to extend their rental agreements, incurring additional costs. 

2.3. Psychological and Emotional Distress: The prolonged strike has severely impacted the mental and emotional well-being of Teacher Trainees. The lack of structure, clarity and direction has engendered a sense of anxiety and frustration.

2.4. Exodus of Students: Teacher Trainees have left their various campuses for their homes because there are no academic activities ongoing. This might even 

3. Delay on the part of the Government in implementing the arbitrary awards: As stated earlier, TTAG has had numerous engagements with key stakeholders since the inception of the strike. We met the Deputy Director for Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Ministry of Education, Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCIPAL) and even Colleges of Education Teachers’ As ssociation of Ghana (CETAG). The Government gave TTAG the assurance that, the demands of CETAG would be met in a timely manner in order for the strike to be called off. Despite the escalating crisis, the Government has delayed in taking a decisive action to address the pressing concerns of both teachers and Teacher Trainees. The Government’s delay signifies a lack of commitment to teacher education and this goes a long to have a devastating effect on the future of Ghana’s education. 

4. Beyond the Strike

The CETAG strike is as a result of a larger systemic failure within the teacher training system. Addressing the following fundamental challenges is essential to establishing a sustainable and thriving teacher education system in the country. 

4.1. Infrastructure deficit:  Colleges of Education across Ghana suffer from inadequate facilities, including insufficient laboratories, libraries and dormitories and lecture blocks. This limits the quality of training given Teacher Trainees and hampers the overall learning environment.

4.2. Impact on Learning: The absence of properly equipped laboratories and libraries restricts students’ access to essential resources and practical learning experiences, directly impacting their ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become effective educators.

4.3. Insufficient Allowances: The current allowance for Teacher Trainees is insufficient to cover their basic expenses and academic necessities. This financial strain creates undue stress and hinders their ability to focus on their studies.

4.4. Poor Feeding Component: The quality and quantity of food provided in the feeding component are often inadequate, reflecting insufficient funding allocated to this critical aspect of student support.

4.5. The Need for Increment in Teacher Trainees’ Allowance: Investing in Teacher Trainees is an investment in the future of education in Ghana. We call for a significant increment in Trainees’ allowances, substantial improvement in the quality of the feeding component and increased funding for essential resources and infrastructure.

4.6. Examination Results of Teacher Trainees in some Colleges of Education:

It is pathetic to know that some mentoring universities of some Colleges of education delay in releasing the examination results to the students, also there are some irregularities in some of the results released. Fluctuations in examination results from some Mentoring Universities have rendered some trainees unable to monitor their academic progress. It will suprise you that some newly trained teachers and trainees in level 400 do not even have access to their level 200 results.  TTAG calls on all mentoring universities to release accurate results to their constituents and in a timely manner. 

5. Lack of Transportation Resources

 The shortage of functioning buses in Colleges of Education significantly limits students’ ability to engage in essential activities, including school observation programs and field trips.

5.1. Impact on Learning: The lack of transportation hampers the practical application of their learning and restricts their exposure to diverse educational environments.

5.2. The Need for Transportation Resources: We urge the Government to allocate resources for dedicated buses in each College of Education. This will ensure that students can participate in essential activities and receive a comprehensive education.

6. TTAG’s Demands 

The Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG) demands immediate and decisive action from the Government to address these urgent concerns. Our demands include:

  1. Resolution of the CETAG Strike: We call on the Government to prioritize negotiations with CETAG and find a swift and equitable solution to the issues that have led to the strike.
  • Investment in College Infrastructure: We demand a significant investment in infrastructure improvements in Colleges of Education, including the construction of adequate laboratories, libraries and accommodations.
  • Increased Allowances and Improved Feeding Component: We call for a substantial increase in Teacher Trainees’ allowances and for the feeding component to be reviewed to ensure sufficient quantity and quality of food.
  • Provision of Buses: We demand that the Government allocate sufficient resources to provide dedicated buses for all Colleges of Education to facilitate student transportation.

We firmly believe that investing in teacher training is an investment in the future of Education in Ghana. The Government must recognize the critical role of Teacher Trainees in shaping the future of our nation.

We urge all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the general public and the media to join us in demanding urgent action to address these critical crises in teacher education.

Thank you for your audience! 

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