PADFM 95.1mhz – Damongo
Students and pupils in Damongo, the Savannah regional capital, have turned their schools into playing grounds as teachers continue with their strike action.
This follows the decision of the the various teacher unions, which includes the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT), as they demand for their ‘Cost of Living Allowance ‘ (COLA).
The various Associations embarked on a strike on 4th July 2022 as their demand has not been met after giving government a deadline of June 30, 2022, to pay the COLA.
However, the Ghana Education Service (GES) in a press release has directed all regional and district directors to ensure that basic school heads keep schools opened and supervise all students who report to school pending further directives from management.
In the Savannah regional capital, Damongo, children were in school school but resort to play games such as football, hide and seek, Ampe among others.
Due to the directive from GES for all public schools to remain opened, the children used the opportunity to play and have fun in their school premises.
Correspondent Nuhu Zulka of Radio for Peace and Development (PADFM) in Damongo on the Sunrise Super Morning Show with Gogu Edwin(host), indicated that, majority of the school children were in school but with no teachers available. Some basic public schools have turned into playing grounds for the children.
According to the leadership of the various associations, the demand for a 20% Cost of Living Allowance is influenced by the high level of inflation in Ghana currently.