POLYTECHNIC LECTURES ON STRIKE

Teachers in some of the country’s polytechnic institutions have embarked on an industrial action which from all indications does not seem to be ending soon until all their demands are fully met.

One such place hit by the strike action by the poly teachers was the Accra Poly where owing to this development many of the students there are getting frustrated each day as they have no inkling of when their teachers will return to the classrooms.

The paper was reliably informed that the strike action took off March 19, 2010 which saw many of the teachers at the polytechnic laying down their tools; however, a few of them were still teaching as of that time.

Unfortunately, the tables have now turned from bad to worst with almost the entire teaching staff joining in the strike action.
The paper’s findings at Accra polytechnic campus revealed that the strike action will stretch over a long period as the teachers are not prepared to budge with government unless their demands are fully met.

“As we have laid down our tools I can promise you that we will not return to the classroom unless all our demands are met. And this time around we can tell you that we the teachers in the various polytechnics will not compromise with government at all,” an Accra polytechnic teacher warned.

However, interactions with many of the students, particularly those at Accra Polytechnic revealed that many of their lecturers did not come to teach during lecturing periods.

The situation on the various polytechnic campuses is one of uncertainty and desperation as students are kept in limbo unknowing whether their teachers will show up for lecturers or not.

In some cases, students are forced to wait throughout the entire lecture hours in anticipation that their lecturers would turn up.

The Accra polytechnic teachers, the paper learnt, are disappointed with government over its continuous reluctance to improve upon their conditions of service.
Some of the poly teachers, who agreed to speak with Today on condition of anonymity, explained that it is sad when they even talk to their friends about their salaries and conditions of service.

“What we are being given as salaries and conditions of service are nothing for us to continue rendering our services in the classrooms, but in spite of all this, we have not given up to serve our nation.

…However, we think enough is enough and it’s time for us to demand our fair share of the national cake,” one of the teachers indicated.

Meanwhile, Today has gathered that though other polytechnic in the other regions had their lecturers still teaching, signals picked by the paper indicate that they will soon join their colleagues to press home their demands