The nationwide industrial strike by pre-tertiary teachers has been suspended effective Friday, October 9, 2026, with teachers expected to return to the classroom on Monday, October 12.
Thomas Musah Tanko, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), announced the suspension following negotiations between the teacher unions, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Employment.
The strike, which began on September 25, was jointly organised by GNAT, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) over unresolved salary adjustments, promotion arrears, stalled collective agreement negotiations and the implementation of the 20% Deprived Area Allowance.
The suspension follows an agreement on three key concerns raised by the unions, with the government committing to specific timelines for implementing allowances and processing outstanding payments.
Under the agreement, more than 51,000 previously promoted teachers are expected to be placed on their appropriate salary scales and receive their outstanding promotion arrears.
Approximately 28,000 additional teachers awaiting promotion-related payments and salary adjustments are also expected to receive their entitlements.
The commitments are intended to address longstanding concerns over delays in adjusting salaries to reflect teachers’ promotions and paying the corresponding arrears.
However, the unions have indicated that negotiations on the remaining issues will continue despite the suspension of the industrial action.
The implementation of the 20% Deprived Area Allowance was among the major issues behind the strike.
The allowance is intended to incentivise teachers working in deprived communities, where challenging living and working conditions can make it difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel.
The unions also raised concerns about delays in salary adjustments and promotion arrears, as well as the pace of negotiations on their collective agreement.
Although the latest discussions have resulted in agreements on three key concerns, the suspension does not mean all the unions’ demands have been resolved.
The implementation of the agreed measures and progress on the outstanding issues are expected to remain central to engagements between the unions and the government.
Public basic schools and other affected pre-tertiary institutions are expected to resume normal operations on Monday, October 12, following the suspension of the strike.
The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have assured parents that the academic calendar remains protected despite the disruption to teaching and learning.
The nearly two-week industrial action raised concerns about its potential impact on the completion of the school curriculum and other academic activities.
With teachers expected to return to their posts, attention will now shift to restoring normal classroom activities and ensuring that pupils make up for any lost instructional time, where necessary.
The government and the teacher unions will also be expected to ensure that the agreed commitments are implemented within the stipulated timelines while negotiations continue on unresolved matters.
By 1960news.com
