The past two years have presented unprecedented challenges for teachers, according to Mr. Peter D. Kpakpo-Atsem, the Eastern Regional GNAT Secretary. He emphasized the various difficulties educators have encountered during this period, including disruptions caused by the unstable academic calendar and the additional teaching burden placed upon them. Speaking with the Ghana News Agency after a press conference in Koforidua, Mr. Kpakpo-Atsem highlighted the significant stress faced by teachers due to these challenges.

Despite the hardships, Mr. Kpakpo-Atsem commended teachers for their remarkable resilience and dedication in ensuring that education continued for students during these trying times. However, he expressed concern over the lack of relief initiatives initiated by the government or the employer to alleviate the burdens faced by teachers. As a result, he announced that teacher unions in the pre-tertiary education sector had set a deadline for the government to address their concerns.

“We are giving the Employer up to May 13, 2024, to address our concerns. Should the Employer fail to address our demands on or before May 13, 2024, then we shall call on the leadership to act immediately,” Mr. Kpakpo-Atsem stated.

The teacher unions initiated a strike on March 20, 2024, to emphasize the importance of receiving a positive response from the government regarding their demands. Mr. Kpakpo-Atsem acknowledged the potential disruptions that a second strike could cause, particularly for Junior High School students taking the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). However, he affirmed the determination of pre-tertiary education teacher unions in the Eastern Region to take action if their allowance concerns are not addressed after May 13, 2024.

Mr. Kpakpo-Atsem outlined the allowances that the unions had been negotiating with the government for over 15 years, which had been reduced to four due to various considerations. These allowances include the deprived area allowance, extra assessment allowance, book/data/online teaching allowance, and upward adjustment of continuing professional development allowance. Despite reducing their demands as a gesture of good faith, Mr. Kpakpo-Atsem criticized the government for its failure to respond to the unions' concerns.

“Our members are reeling under the utter hardship imposed on us all by the current economic conditions in the country,” he added, emphasizing the urgency of addressing teachers' concerns to alleviate their hardships.