Pupils and students in parts of the Upper East Region are becoming increasingly worried about the impact of the ongoing teachers’ strike on their academic preparation as the industrial action enters its 10th day.
At Sacred Heart Junior High School in Bolgatanga, pupils say the disruption is particularly worrying as the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) approaches, leaving them with fewer instructional days to complete their preparation.
One of the pupils, Ayindosiya Sylvia, said effective teaching had taken place for only about a week before teachers withdrew their services.
She said the situation had placed pupils in the public section of the Catholic institution at a disadvantage compared with their colleagues in the private section, where teaching and learning have continued.
According to her, the shrinking number of days before the BECE was becoming a major concern for pupils who depend on classroom instruction to prepare for the examination.
She appealed to the government to urgently intervene and resolve the dispute to enable teachers to return to the classroom.
Another pupil, Muniu Ajira, described the effect of the strike on their daily school routine.
“We only come to school to play and go back. Teaching and learning is not going on.”
The concerns are not limited to basic school pupils, as students in Senior High Schools in the region are also worried about the effect of the strike on their academic preparation, particularly those in their final year.
One student, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, appealed to the government to resolve the dispute and ensure that teachers return to the classroom.
“Please, we are begging the government to help us pay our teachers. Teaching and learning have not been stable for some time now. We have been having talks all the time, but we are still here, and no teaching and learning is going on.”
She said the disruption could have serious consequences for students as examinations draw closer.
“This can seriously affect our academics because we are not learning and examinations are approaching. We are the future generation. We want to learn, make Ghana proud and contribute to the development of the country.”
Another student from the Upper East Region, who attends a Senior High School, said final-year students were particularly affected because they would soon be sitting their examinations.
“Because the teachers have gone on strike, it is affecting us, especially those of us in Form Three who will soon be writing our examinations.”
The student appealed to the government to resolve the outstanding issues with the teachers so that normal academic activities could resume.
“We are therefore calling on the government to pay the teachers so that they can come back to school and teaching and learning can resume.”
The concerns from learners come as the teacher unions continue their industrial action, rejecting calls from the government to return to the classroom.
The unions have maintained that they will remain on strike until their outstanding concerns, including salary arrears and deprived-area allowance payments, are addressed and reflected on their payslips.
The position has left schools in affected areas without regular classroom instruction, with pupils and parents now calling for an urgent resolution to prevent further loss of instructional time.
A parent, Nyaaba Eric, said the government must treat the dispute with urgency because it is the children who are ultimately bearing the consequences of the continued disruption.
“We don’t have much to say other than to appeal to the government to, as a matter of urgency, address the pressing challenges of the teachers for our children to get back to school and continue learning.”
Mr Nyaaba Eric also raised concerns about the difference in learning opportunities between pupils in public and private schools, particularly where private schools continue to operate while teaching in affected public schools remains disrupted.
The teachers’ strike has been triggered by unresolved concerns between the government and the teacher unions over conditions affecting their members, including the payment of salary arrears and deprived-area allowances.
While the government has appealed to the unions to call off the industrial action and return to the classroom, the unions have maintained their position that the outstanding issues must first be addressed.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Moses Anaba| Bolgatanga
