Protect the Academic Calendar: Education Minister Appeals to Striking Teachers as Negotiations Begin

​Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has issued an urgent appeal to striking teacher unions to return to the classroom while the government works to address their grievances. Speaking at a high-stakes meeting at the Ministry of Education, the Minister urged teachers to protect the school calendar, which only recently restored its traditional September-to-July cycle. The engagement brought together key state institutions including the Controller and Accountant General's Department, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Ghana Education Service alongside leadership from major teacher associations to broker a solution.

​The nationwide strike, which launched on Friday, September 25, 2026, has left thousands of classrooms empty across the country. Reports from the Ashanti Region and other areas indicate that several basic and secondary schools have been forced to shut down entirely due to widespread teacher absenteeism. Ministry spokesperson Hasmin Mohammed highlighted the severity of the interruption, emphasizing that the ministry fought hard to realign the academic schedule so all students from kindergarten to university level could resume together this September.

​At the core of the industrial action are three major unresolved demands that the unions claim the government ignored despite a formal deadline of September 24. First, teachers are demanding the immediate finalization of a new Collective Agreement to replace the previous one that expired in June 2026. Negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission have stagnated for months, leaving educators without an updated working agreement.

​Additionally, the unions are protesting severe administrative delays regarding salary placements and allowances. Approximately 80,000 newly promoted teachers who passed aptitude tests in late 2025 and early 2026 have yet to be placed on their proper salary scales or receive back-pay arrears dating to January. The unions are also demanding the immediate implementation of the 20% Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities, citing both a 2024 National Labour Commission ruling and executive directives.

​Despite the Ministry's call for calm, teacher union leaders remain skeptical about swift resolution. National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) President Jacob Anaba accused the government of acting in bad faith, pointing out that continuous institutional delays reflect a lack of urgency toward teachers' welfare. While inter-agency dialogue continues at the Ministry, the unions maintain that clear, concrete commitments not just appeals will be required to get teachers back in front of their students.

@Volta Today