Eastern Region: Pupils wander as teachers' strike take a toll on teaching and learning
At some government schools, pupils reported for their normal 7:35 am lessons, only to meet locked classrooms, empty compound and no teachers.
The nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions is already taking a toll on teaching and learning in parts of the Eastern Region.
At some government schools, pupils reported for their normal 7:35 am lessons, only to meet locked classrooms, empty compound and no teachers.
A visit to some schools around Yilo Krobo municipality, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya, and Asuogyaman and indicated that the familiar sounds of lessons in classrooms is missing.
And pupils who have reported to school were left stranded, unsure of what comes next. For these children, the school day has begun but there are no teachers to begin the lesson.
At the Yilo krobo, Lower manya krobo, Upper Manya, and Asuogaman Basic Schools the school is open, but the usual activity is conspicuously absent.
Empty chairs greet visitors entering some classrooms.
The headteacher’s office is also locked.
The nationwide strike has been declared by the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, NAGRAT, and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers’ Association of Ghana, PRETAG.
The unions are protesting what they describe as delays in placing promoted teachers on their appropriate salary scales.
But away from the industrial action and the negotiations, it is the pupils who are feeling the immediate impact.
At a time when these pupils should be inside their classrooms learning, some are instead waiting around with no teachers to take them through their lessons.
And for these children, the question is simple — when will school return to normal?
Until the dispute between the teacher unions and the government is resolved, scenes of empty classrooms and stranded pupils could become an increasingly familiar sight.
Empty chairs greet visitors entering some classrooms. The headteachers' offices are also locked.
The nationwide strike was declared by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-GH).
At a time when they should be inside their classrooms learning, some are instead waiting around with no teachers to take them through their lessons.