Tema Basic schools respond to strike

Basic schools in Tema have been closed due to the ongoing strike action declared by public sector workers to press home their demands for their chosen fund managers to manage their second tier pension scheme.

Organized labour, made up of about 12 public sector labour unions, started the indefinite strike on Wednesday as they claimed government had refused to release the funds accruing from the Second Tier Pension Scheme to fund manager chosen by workers.

A visit to some basic schools in the Tema Metropolis by the Ghana News Agency revealed that the schools were virtually empty as the strike entered its third day.

Pupils of the Padmore Street Basic School took advantage of the absence of their teachers to either play ampe or football on the school compound.

Some of the pupils, who were mainly dressed in their house attire, were also seen climbing over the school wall.

The story was not different at the T.I. Ahmadiyya Basic School, Twedaase Basic School and other schools, visited as most of the pupils were not at school while those present happily spent their time playing.

Some of the pupils the GNA spotted in town either roaming or hawking wares for their mothers, said their school authorities informed them not to report to school as their teachers would not be around to teach them.

According to the children, on Wednesday and Thursday, even though some of their teachers reported to school, there was no teaching and learning and they were left on their own to play.

They said school authorities, however asked them to return to school on Monday to find out if their teachers were back in the classrooms.