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Government on Sunday says it has received assurance from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) that preparations for the conduct of the 2013 West African Senior Schools Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) were on course. A statement signed by Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Information and Media Relations to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), therefore, asked students, parents and schools to focus on their preparations for the examinations. Last week the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) organized a press conference in Accra announcing that it would embark on strike beginning Monday March 18th. This is coming when SHS students have very little time to sit the WASSCE. The teachers union raised issues relating to their salaries and conditions of service. Meanwhile, the statement said the NAGRAT failed to honour a meeting slated for today Sunday March 17th with heads of government�s agencies and relevant sector ministries, citing short notice to them. It said the meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff, was to enable government to address the concerns raised by NAGRAT and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT). The GNAT, however, attended. The meeting agreed that the GNAT engaged in further consultations with their partners and revert to government. Government assured all parties that steps would be taken to address the concerns of the unions, while appropriate directives would be given to the relevant ministries and agencies. The Minister of Finance, Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations and the Minister of Information and Media Relations were in attendance. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance and his staff, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the two Deputy Director Generals of the Ghana Education Service (GES), two Deputies of the Controller and Accountant General provided relevant briefings.