There appears to be an attempt by government to prevent teachers from participating in the nationwide demonstration declared by organized labour.
A circular sent around yesterday to the various senior high schools demanded that teachers stay at post because a supposed “team for timetable audit would visit the schools.”
It was said to have emanated from the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The circular which had been posted on the notice boards of most secondary schools therefore issued out strict instructions that “teachers must be at post everyday starting from Tuesday, 19thFebruary 2016.”
This has provoked some level of anger among the teachers most of who are determined to partake in tomorrow’s demonstration.
A couple of them who spoke to the paper expressed disappointment in the decision.
They therefore indicated their resolve to take part in the demonstration.
“All these are subtle attempts to stop us taking part in the demonstration will not work because we remain resolute in our quest to press home our demands for a reduction in these cutthroat utility tariffs and fuel price hikes which are not commensurate with our salaries”, one teacher told the paper.
Another expressed disappointment in government’s decision to increase utility tariffs and the fuel price hikes, saying “I can’t imagine how anybody in his right senses would try to rationalize this decision; government must reduce the fuel and utility tariffs now.”
Organized labour has set tomorrow January 20, 2016 aside for a demonstration to press home their demands for a decrease in fuel prices and utility tariffs.
On New Year’s Eve, government announced new fuel prices and utility tariffs which has since become a major source of worry to workers, compelling organized labour which includes the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other worker unions to call for a decrease.
While electricity was increased by 59%, with that of water by 67%, increase in fuel prices were 22% and 27%, provoking an immediate rejection by Ghanaians and the labour unions.
After attempts by the unions failed to yield any dividend, they declared a demonstration which comes off tomorrow with all workers, especially civil servants and public servants, expected to show up in their numbers.
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