Some basic schools in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region are facing possible temporary closure as the ongoing teachers’ strike continues to disrupt teaching and learning.
The strike has reportedly resulted in low teacher attendance in several schools, with some headteachers considering closing their institutions because of the limited number of teachers available to handle pupils.
Speaking to OTEC News reporter Ama Nyame, Secretary of the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) in Kwabre East and Headteacher of Asenua M.A. Basic School, Mr Paul Nyame, said the situation was becoming increasingly difficult for school authorities.
According to him, several headteachers he had spoken to had reported similar challenges, with some schools already closing while others were preparing to do so.
He said at his school, most pupils reported for classes, but only three teachers out of an estimated 20 reported for duty.
“The children came to school, but the teachers did not come. We have about 20 teachers, but only three reported to school. Looking at the situation, teaching and learning will not be effective, so we may have to close the school,” he said.
Mr Nyame explained that the low teacher turnout was making it difficult for schools to organise effective lessons and adequately supervise pupils.
He said the situation was not peculiar to Asenua M.A. Basic School, as other headteachers within the municipality had also reported similar difficulties.
Concerns Behind the Strike
Mr Nyame said some of the concerns raised by the teacher unions included delays in the payment of salary arrears for teachers who received promotions as far back as 2025.
He also mentioned the expiration of the unions’ collective bargaining agreement, which requires engagement between the unions and the government to reach a new agreement.
According to him, there are also outstanding allowances owed to teachers which need to be addressed.
He therefore appealed to the government and the teacher unions to return to the negotiating table and find a lasting solution to the issues.
“We are looking forward to the government taking steps to resolve these issues so that the teachers can return to the classroom and normal teaching and learning can resume,” he said.
Mr Nyame stressed that school authorities were concerned about the impact of the strike on pupils and wanted the impasse resolved as soon as possible.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that teaching and learning goes on normally. We hope the issues will be resolved quickly so that the children can return to a stable learning environment,” he added.
Source: Ghana/otecmfhana.xom/Antoinette Ama Nyame
