The Ashantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has tasked teachers to seek other options in resolving their issues with the government rather than using the strike as an option whenever their concerns are not addressed.
Speaking to teachers at the National Delegate Conference, the Ashantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu argued that when teachers resort to strike to drive home their demands, it is rather innocent School children who bear the consequences of the strike action and not the Employer who is the politicians.
On many occasions in the country, teachers have resorted to industrial action (strikes) to pressure the government to address their demands but most of those strike actions have not yielded any positive results.
Due to this the Ashantehene addressing members of GNAT at the National Delegate Conference in Kumasi said “obviously those who suffered whenever teachers go on strike is the innocent children. I urge you all to focus your minds on the need for an improved way for negotiation and consultation which will minimize, if not eliminate, any recourse to industrial action and the harmful consequences on our children”.
Ashantehene also encourage stakeholders in Education to help improve the working conditions of the hardworking teachers.
He noted that ” whiles we will always urge moderation in the face of national economic realities, we will nonetheless, urge policymakers to ensure that the status of our teachers truly reflect the level of importance we attach to their place in society.”
Teachers are encouraged to shift their minds from thinking that strike actions are the only language government understands but rather focus on other relevant ways of resolving their issues with the government.