A section of the student population in the University of Cape Coast have welcomed the decision by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to suspend their 7-week strike till 4th March 2022.
The students are however appealing to the authorities to ensure that the necessary decisions are made in response to the demands of UTAG to prevent any further striking by the association.
Speaking to ATLFMNEWS following the press release by UTAG on Monday, some of the students explained the strike action is laudable but has gravely affected them.
One student said, “They said they have called off the strike and I believe they will come back to class, however they are likely not to put in their best because their concerns are yet to be addressed.”
Another said “if they are truly coming back to class we would be happy, we the first years have not had it easy. Some continuing students have even given us their first-year booklets to read but we have no understanding when we read.”
“We have paid school fees and we have been here for long without any activity so we will be very happy if they return to class.” Another student intimated.
The leadership of UTAG held an emergency meeting on Thursday, which resulted in the decision to suspend the seven-week-old strike.
In a release issued Monday, February 21, and signed by the National President, Prof. Solomon Nunoo, and the National Secretary, Dr. Asare Asante-Annor, it said the National Executive Committee has resolved that “UTAG should heed to the advice of the eminent leaders, the Select Committee on Education and the court ruling to suspend our strike action up to 4th March 2022 to engage with government”.
According to the NEC, there have been appeals from parents and eminent leaders of the country such as former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who is the Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), and Sir Sam Jonah, who is the Chancellor of University of Cape Coast (UCC). The committee also said it has considered the appeal from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to suspend the strike action and ask them to negotiate and report to them within one week.
To this end, they informed their members among other decisions that negotiations will commence in earnest and be completed within the agreed period and the outcome communicated to its members.
The release further stated that “the legal processes on the legality or otherwise of our strike action, pending before the Court, will continue to its logical conclusion.
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Source: ATLFMNEWS
