The controversy surrounding the University Teachers Association (UTAG ) calling off its month-long strike seems to be over.
The association has suspended its strike and directed its members throughout the country to resume duty with immediate effect, following an order from an Accra High Court compelling the National Labour Commission (NLC) to appoint a mediator to address the concerns of the teachers within seven days.
The NLC last mouth initiated a legal action against the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) for refusing to comply with its October 15 directive to enter into compulsory arbitration to resolve issues concerning their terms and conditions of service which had expired since 2006.
However, POTAG, in a letter dated October 16, registered its protest against NLC’s directive and questioned why its members should return to the classroom and at the same time go for arbitration but, the Labour and Industrial Division of an Accra High Court dismissed the suit, describing the NLC’s directive as “arbitrary and pre-mature”.
The court found no reasonable grounds to grant the relief, and consequently ordered the NLC to appoint a mediator to meet with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and POTAG, to settle the striking teachers’ unresolved issues on their conditions of service.
The Times is, indeed, gratified that the teachers have resolved to resume duties with immediate effect.
We hope and pray that the Labour Commission would comply with the court’s directive and appoint a mediator as early as possible to ensure that the issues at stake are resolved in the mutual interest of the parties involved.
It is a fact that the month-long strike by the teachers has disrupted academic work in the country’s polytechnics and is likely to affect the performance of the students.
As we pointed out in our previous editorial, the developments on the educational front lately do not augur well for the country’s drive to provide quality education for the people.
While urging the teachers to put in an extra effort to make up for the time lost and provide their students with the tutorials that they need during this semester, the Times also expects the students to show seriousness in their lessons in order to be abreast of the courses.
The Times commends all those who have in diverse ways, contributed towards the resolution of the dispute and hopes that a lasting solution would be found to the impasse.
The nation needs to confront the turbulence that has hit the education sector with all the seriousness it deserves.
The association has suspended its strike and directed its members throughout the country to resume duty with immediate effect, following an order from an Accra High Court compelling the National Labour Commission (NLC) to appoint a mediator to address the concerns of the teachers within seven days.
The NLC last mouth initiated a legal action against the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) for refusing to comply with its October 15 directive to enter into compulsory arbitration to resolve issues concerning their terms and conditions of service which had expired since 2006.
However, POTAG, in a letter dated October 16, registered its protest against NLC’s directive and questioned why its members should return to the classroom and at the same time go for arbitration but, the Labour and Industrial Division of an Accra High Court dismissed the suit, describing the NLC’s directive as “arbitrary and pre-mature”.
The court found no reasonable grounds to grant the relief, and consequently ordered the NLC to appoint a mediator to meet with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and POTAG, to settle the striking teachers’ unresolved issues on their conditions of service.
The Times is, indeed, gratified that the teachers have resolved to resume duties with immediate effect.
We hope and pray that the Labour Commission would comply with the court’s directive and appoint a mediator as early as possible to ensure that the issues at stake are resolved in the mutual interest of the parties involved.
It is a fact that the month-long strike by the teachers has disrupted academic work in the country’s polytechnics and is likely to affect the performance of the students.
As we pointed out in our previous editorial, the developments on the educational front lately do not augur well for the country’s drive to provide quality education for the people.
While urging the teachers to put in an extra effort to make up for the time lost and provide their students with the tutorials that they need during this semester, the Times also expects the students to show seriousness in their lessons in order to be abreast of the courses.
The Times commends all those who have in diverse ways, contributed towards the resolution of the dispute and hopes that a lasting solution would be found to the impasse.
The nation needs to confront the turbulence that has hit the education sector with all the seriousness it deserves.
