IT’S SO SAD, INTERESTING AND CONFUSING TO SEE TEACHER UNIONS’ REACTIONS TO GOVERNMENT – ISAAC FRIKO ASUNKE WRITES

What are we striking for, the removal of the new DG, or better working conditions? Well, all these sound funny to me cos our union leaders themselves and we union members sometimes aren’t serious.

I hear calls for the removal of the new DG cos he isn’t part of us and we want our own to take up that position. What did we experience when our people occupied these positions in the past, cos I remember vividly the actions of Prof Nana Opoku Agyeman, our own when she was made the minister of education; chalk,teaching and learning materials and other essentials were a problem. Teachers who were posted to villages and towns were denied salaries but we paid only 3 months after working for two or three years. I am a victim. Did we even get salary increments during that period?

The former P.R.O of the ministry of education, Ekow Assafuah, (he was then 27years old), insulted the intelligence of our union leaders and teachers on several occasions but we never reacted and so whatvis our problem today?

What have we as teachers benefited from these unions that we belong to? We make contributions into a pool at the end of every month as dues and yet all we get at the end of the year are pens, pen drives, umbrellas ☂️, diaries, and sometimes nothing at all. Imagine all the assets of these unions. Who do they account to?

Take a look at the way *some* of own people treat us in our various schools just because they are our superiors, take a look at the stress teachers go through with the various regional and district officers, not to even mention the headmaster and headteachers.HELL!! What have these unions achieved for all these years they have existed? Take a look at how the laptop issues we handled, not to even talk about the quality. You could smell greet all over the transactions but yet we kept quiet.

I was thinking Gnat especially will suspend all loan deductions temporarily or better still negotiate for better pay but….hmmm

This repartee with the government I believe will not end anytime soon cos this government will not rescind its decision. The earlier we begin to think about ourselves, the better.

The focus now should be what the new DG is bringing on board. What will be the reaction of these unions leaders when we begin to see better condition of service under this new DG. I believe we should be measured in our conversation and not engage ourselves needless strikes. It is sometimes very difficult to win arguments with politicians, the best you can do is to make lot of noise while arguing. Some teachers do not see the need for this strike and they equally have the right to make their voices heard.

By: Isaac Friko Asunke
Nkwanta south,
Oti Region

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