TUTAG calls for the restoration of original academic calendar

Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has expressed worry over Ghana's delay in reverting to the pre-pandemic academic calendar which is negatively having affecting health and well-being of students, faculty, and parents of institutions.

"The significant disruption to our educational calendar caused by COVID-19 nearly five years down the line is affecting academic work on the various campuses.

"We are therefore calling on government through the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to take immediate steps to restore the original academic calendar to ensure the smooth operation of our academic institutions," TUTAG stated.

The Leadership and members of TUTAG made the appeal in a communique issued at the end of the 48thCongress at the Tamale Technical University from the 5th to 7th August 2024 and signed by Prof. Uriah S. Tetteh, President and Samuel Jabez Arkaifie General Secretary.

Office-holding Positions
TUTAG has received reports that certain individuals are proposing the conversion of academic office-holding positions such as Director of Quality Assurance, Hall Master into administrative roles to allow non-academic staff to occupy. Of which TUTAG strongly opposes such proposals and will reject same if they are put forth.

Welfare of Members
TUTAG members continue to face significant financial and health challenges due to the nation’s economic difficulties and increased workloads of which the issues have unfortunately resulted in some members frequently falling ill and, in some cases, losing their lives.

Given the urgency of these concerns, TUATG has initiated strategic measures to improve members' access to healthcare, financial support, and opportunities for enhancing their economic well-being.

The details of these initiatives will be finalized and communicated to members in due course but leadership urged all members across the country to lend their support to ensure the successful implementation of these initiative.

Conditions of Service for Senior Members (Academic)

According to TUTAG, the implementation of the negotiated Conditions of Service (CoS) for Academic Staff in the Public Universities in Ghana has taken too long a time to be implemented across the various campuses and therefore TUTAG requests that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) issues a directive to the Governing Councils of the various institutions for the prompt implementation of CoS.

Book and Research Allowance (BRA) for the 2023/2024 academic year

The communique indicated that, though TUTAG acknowledged the efforts being made by the government to facilitate the payment of this year’s BRA, however, the academic year in most Technical Universities is nearing its end and therefore urged the government to expedite the process of disbursing the BRA, especially in light of the depreciating value of the Ghana cedi against the dollar.

Downgraded Staff Issue
TUTAG remains committed to pursuing a diplomatic resolution for our downgraded colleagues because affected members were treated unfairly.

While legal proceedings already been initiated to seek redress in the court, we urge all affected members to stay united and be assured that Leadership is working together to end this injustice and that we believe that the best way out is to restore all downgraded staff to their former ranks, it said.

IGF-related Conditions of Service
Touching on the Internally Generated Funds (IGF), it said, some Chapters have successfully concluded negotiations on the IGF-related Conditions of Service (CoS) with their respective Councils, while others are yet to do so.

It therefore urged those Chapters lagging behind to finalize their negotiations promptly and submit the documents for approval, as time is of the essence.