ACCRA, October 25 -- Some second cycle schools in Accra said on Monday that they are not feeling the impact of the industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT). While in some schools members of the association are teaching and marking examination papers, others are not doing anything.
At Achimota School, Mrs Flora Mensah, Assistant Headmistress (Academic Affairs), told the Ghana News Agency that there were student teachers from some of the universities who are on practical attachment.
She said these and a few national service personnel have been assisting in filling the vacuum created as a result of the industrial action. "Some NAGRAT members are among other teaching staff compiling the continuous assessment records of students to be sent to the West African Examinations Council," Mrs Mensah said.
Some NAGRAT members at the Labone Secondary School were marking examination papers at the teachers' common room. Mr Daniel Amohenu, Assistant Headmaster (Academic Affairs), said although there is supposed to be an industrial action, some members of the association were teaching.
"They are doing that purely on humanitarian grounds. That is the nature of the teaching profession." The Headmaster of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Mr Joseph Jectey Asare, said he was worried that NAGRAT's members, who form over 90 per cent of the teaching staff, may not be available to supervise final examinations, which have started.
He said the science laboratory, which must be set up at least one week before the commencement of practical examinations, was still not ready. Asare appealed for a settlement for the teachers to call off the strike.
The leadership of the NAGRAT called for the strike to compel the authorities to address their concerns including separate salary levels from non-graduates
