NNED calls for urgent resolution of teachers’ concerns, return to classrooms
NNED urges government and teacher unions to prioritise negotiations and minimise disruption to learning
The Northern Network for Education Development (NNED) has called on the government and teacher unions to urgently resolve the issues underlying the ongoing nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions and facilitate a swift return to the classroom.
In a press release issued in Friday October 2, NNED said the prolonged industrial action was having a significant impact on teaching and learning across Ghana, particularly for children in rural, deprived and underserved communities in Northern Ghana.
The network acknowledged the right of teachers to raise legitimate concerns about their conditions of service, remuneration, promotions, allowances, professional development and overall welfare.
However, it stressed that every day learners remain out of school represents valuable instructional time that may be difficult to recover.
“Teaching is not only a profession; it is a national responsibility with a profound influence on the future of every child,” NNED said, emphasising the indispensable role teachers play in shaping the future of children and driving national development.
NNED urged the government, the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and other relevant stakeholders to intensify negotiations and address the concerns raised by teachers with urgency.
The network said dialogue must be accompanied by concrete, transparent and time-bound actions capable of restoring confidence among teachers and their unions.
It further called on government to communicate clear implementation timelines for commitments already made and ensure that such commitments are honoured.
At the same time, NNED appealed to teacher unions and their leadership to consider the impact of the prolonged industrial action on learners and explore every possible avenue that would allow teaching and learning to resume while negotiations continue in good faith.
According to the network, the interests of teachers and learners are complementary rather than competing.
NNED warned that extended disruptions could deepen existing educational inequalities, particularly in communities where access to alternative learning opportunities is limited.
It therefore called on all parties to place the welfare and future of Ghanaian children at the centre of ongoing discussions and work towards a fair and sustainable resolution.
The network said Ghana could not afford a prolonged disruption to the education of its children and urged all stakeholders to demonstrate good faith, mutual understanding and decisive action to minimise further disruption to academic activities.
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