A Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament Dr. Clement Apaak has slammed the government blaming it for the unresolved impasse between it and the University Teachers Association of Ghana.
The lawmaker who has recused himself from the engagement between UTAG and the committee in the ongoing strike said he would be biased as a former member.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, Dr. Apaak noted that the government has pushed lecturers to the wall, disrespected them, and at this point, there is no other way to resolve the issues than to meet their demands.
He told host Kwabena Agyapong that although the court has ordered them to call off the strike, it will not resolve the matter.
He stated that UTAG has expressed their preparedness to be sacked hence there is no end in sight on the matter.
Dr. Apaak asserted that lecturers are working under poor conditions and under stress due to the large number of students in our schools.
He said the government was not prepared to employ more lecturers to teach in our various tertiary institutions and yet, there are not getting what they deserve for their services.
“When lecturers say they are prepared to be sacked, then it means they have been pushed to the wall. I would insist that the various tertiary institutions are closed down because the lecturers are not prepared to go back to the classroom”.
He said there should be a reasonable balance between the teacher and student ratio but that is not what we have today.
Dr. Apaak was worried teachers have not been treated well by the current government and they are now demanding better conditions of service.
The lawmaker who represents the people of Builsa South said ” UTAG went on strike because they found out the government was not serious and so not prepared to take their concerns seriously”.
“The right thing must be done and the government must take steps to address the issues raised by UTAG. Government must do the needful and meet the demands of UTAG,” he added.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
