The government is processing the release of GH¢41 million to pay book and research allowances owed to members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) for the 2023/2024 academic year.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who disclosed this at the weekend, said the payment would be effected this week in order to restore normal academic work by Monday.
“We will pay you, and we will pay you within the next one week.
By February 9, normal academic work should be restored in all colleges of education throughout the country,” Mr Iddrisu stated.
Congregation
Mr Iddrisu made the announcement at the 14th congregation and 96th anniversary celebration of St John Bosco’s College of Education in Navrongo in the Upper East Region last weekend. In all, 581 students graduated.
The Education Minister assured the striking lecturers that the payment would be effected within one week, urging them to resume work by February 9, 2026.
CETAG has been on strike since November 24, last year, demanding the full implementation of the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) May 2023 arbitral award, particularly the payment of book and research allowances.
Appeal
Mr Iddrisu appealed to the lecturers to consider the toll of the industrial action on students and the academic calendar, stressing the need for stability in teacher training institutions.
“We should not get to a point of conflict over unpaid book and research allowance.
Let us maintain a serene academic environment so that our children can learn,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu stated that the government had already demonstrated good faith by clearing arrears inherited from previous years, saying the current delay was purely administrative.
“This payment is now between the Controller and Accountant General and your bank accounts.
Why would you hold students to ransom when the process is ongoing?” he asked.
Academic freedom
Reaffirming the government’s respect for academic freedom, Mr Iddrisu stressed that sustained disruptions in colleges of education undermined teacher quality and, by extension, national development.
“The quality of the student is a direct function of the quality of the teacher.
That is why restoring academic normalcy is non-negotiable,” he pointed out.
Mr Iddrisu appealed to CETAG to call off the strike immediately, assuring members that the promised funds would be paid before colleges reopened.
He also assured CETAG that once the payment was made, it would effectively address the outstanding issues arising from the NLC arbitral award.
Commitments
Beyond the strike, the Minister of Education announced plans to reconstitute and swear in the Governing Council of St John Bosco’s College of Education by Tuesday, February 10, this year following consultations with the
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
