GTEC directs colleges of education to remain open amid CETAG strike

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has instructed all colleges of education to remain open despite the ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), which began on June 14 due to the government's failure to implement arbitral awards and conditions of service.

Although there have been calls to close the colleges because of the two-month strike, GTEC stated on August 16, 2024, that no decision has been made to close the institutions, nor has the Minister of Education directed them to do so.

Thus, all 46 colleges of education are to stay open until further notice.

Below is the full statement:

Update on CETAG strike concerns and colleges of education closure:

The attention of GTEC has been drawn to numerous requests on the need for the closure of the 46 colleges of education in lieu of the impending strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG).

The Commission, as of today, August 16, 2024, has not reached such a conclusion, nor has it been directed by the Honourable Minister of Education to do so. As a result, all 46 colleges of education should stay open until further notice.

Again, as you are aware, the Commission has migrated 20 institutions as of today and hopes to complete all 46 before the end of the month.

In addition, the top-up of the research allowance has been paid to 44 colleges of education except McCoy and Dambai, who have some technical issues to be resolved. Additionally, the all-year-round payment, which is also an issue of contention, has been initiated on the Ghana Integrate Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to enable the Ministry of Finance to issue the release letter and specific warrant for payment to be effected as soon as possible.

Regarding the payment of salaries for August, the Commission will communicate directives on the subject once they have been received from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.

In the meantime, the Commission is in serious talks with the Honourable Minister of Education for financial clearance to be granted to GTEC to recruit some two thousand five hundred (2500) teaching staff to augment the current load for academic work to commence as quickly as possible while we work with CETAG to resolve their concerns.

GTEC will communicate to you the modalities with which this urgent staff recruitment will be expedited as soon as clearance is provided.

I am counting on your usual cooperation.