NUGS threatens demonstration if...

Accra, June 6, GNA - The National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS) on Monday said they would embark on a massive demonstration on Thursday June 9 if the current impasse between the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the striking graduate teachers were not resolved by Wednesday, June 8.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra Mr Abubakari Forgor, President of NUGS, said the Association would hit the streets if teaching and learning did not return to the country's Senior Secondary Schools by Wednesday.

He said efforts by NUGS to have the issues resolved amicably had so far failed because of the intransigent posture being adopted by officials of both parties to use dialogue in resolving their differences.

Members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) have been on a strike action for over a month fighting for improved conditions of service and allowances.

The NUGS said the entrenched posture being adopted by both parties was detrimental to current and future academic performance of students. Mr Forgor expressed NUGS disappointment about NAGRAT's failure to honour a meeting that was called to finalise discussions on the way forward on Monday June 6 and the press conference by the GES/Ministry of Education last week during which the Minister issued an ultimatum to the striking teachers.

He urged the officials of both parties to come out of their intransigent positions to work towards peaceful resolution of the impasse.

Mr Forgor said the students should not be allowed to go through psychological trauma since the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations were less than four weeks away.

He appealed to other bodies such as the Council of State, Christian and Muslim Councils, National House of Chiefs to implore the GES and NAGRAT to cease fire, return to the negotiating table and make compromises that would ensure the well being of the affected students. 06 June 05