[Opinion] Teacher Strike Action: A Concern for the Future of Our Children

The continuous strike action by teacher unions should be a matter of concern to every Ghanaian. The issue is not only about teachers and government. It is about our children, their education and the future of Ghana.

The recent BECE and WASSCE results should encourage us to reflect seriously on the state of education in our country. Examination performance is influenced by many factors, but we cannot ignore the importance of consistent teaching, effective learning and a stable academic calendar.

When teachers stay away from the classroom, students lose valuable instructional time. Parents and guardians become frustrated. Working parents struggle to make alternative arrangements for their children, while the academic calendar is disrupted.

This therefore raises some important questions:

• Must workers always go on strike before their concerns receive serious attention?
• Why should policymakers wait until industrial action begins when government has the institutions, experts and information necessary to identify problems early?
• After resolving the concerns of teachers, who will be next to embark on industrial action?
• If we say the economy is stabilising, why are many ordinary citizens still struggling with the increasing cost of living?

Government and organised labour must find a better way of resolving these matters before they reach the point of strike action.

I therefore humbly appeal to His Excellency the President and all relevant authorities to give the current situation the urgency it deserves.

Let us not only seek to end this particular strike. Let us find lasting solutions that will prevent the next one. Our children cannot afford prolonged interruptions to their education. They cannot negotiate with government. They cannot negotiate with teacher unions. But they are the ones who ultimately bear the consequences.

The future of Ghana is sitting in our classrooms. Let us protect it. May the Government and the teacher unions find a fair, responsible and lasting resolution. May God bless our homeland, Ghana and make our nation great and strong. 🇬🇭

By Godfried Kudzo Akpanya

Social Worker in Community and Youth Development