The Ministry of Education is scheduled to meet the three pre-tertiary teacher unions on Monday, September 28, 2026, in an effort to resolve outstanding concerns that have triggered a nationwide strike by teachers.
The meeting follows the decision by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) to begin nationwide industrial action over unpaid promotion-related arrears, delays in negotiations and other outstanding demands.
Education Ministry Seeks Talks With Teacher Unions
The Ministry’s Press Secretary and Spokesperson, Hasmin Mohammed, said Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu would engage the unions and other relevant institutions on Monday in an attempt to resolve the dispute and encourage the unions to call off the strike.
The discussions are expected to involve the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, as the Ministry says the issues cannot be resolved by the Education Ministry alone.
Why Teachers Declared the Strike
The three unions announced the nationwide industrial action on Friday, September 25, 2026, after a deadline given to government to address their concerns passed without the issues being resolved to their satisfaction.
Among the concerns raised by the unions is the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement. They say the existing agreement has expired and that negotiations for a replacement, which they expected to have been completed by June 2026, remain outstanding.
The unions are also demanding the automatic placement of teachers who successfully passed promotion examinations in December 2025 and February 2026 onto their appropriate salary scales, together with payment of arrears dating back to January 2026.
Deprived Area Allowance Also Unresolved
Another issue raised by the unions is the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in deprived and hard-to-reach communities.
The unions have referred to provisions in their 2024 Collective Agreement concerning a review of the Deprived Area Report and subsequent negotiations on the applicable allowance. They say the process has not yet been completed.
Recent reporting on the dispute also indicates that the unions have raised concerns about the financial treatment of newly promoted teachers and the implementation of agreed allowances.
Ministry Warns of Possible Impact on Academic Calendar
The Education Ministry has expressed concern about the potential effect of the industrial action on the academic calendar, particularly as efforts have been made to restore a harmonised school calendar following previous disruptions.
Mr Mohammed said the government wants the relevant institutions and teacher unions to use Monday’s meeting as a platform to address the outstanding matters and find a way forward.
Strike Remains in Force Pending Resolution
The teacher unions’ action follows prolonged engagement between the unions and government over promotion placement, arrears, conditions of service and allowances. The unions have maintained that delays and unfulfilled commitments contributed to their decision to withdraw their services.
The outcome of Monday’s engagement between the Education Ministry, the teacher unions, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department will determine the next stage of the dispute.
GhanaMedia.net will continue to follow developments concerning the teacher strike and the negotiations between the unions and government.
Read more from Ghana News, follow Ghana News Live and explore our Top Stories.
