Accra, Sept 29, GNA - The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday accused the Government of failing to address the grievances of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) leading to their industrial action.

"We are concerned because one of the challenges of the educational reforms is not only an increase in the number of teachers but also an upward mobility in their conditions of service and remuneration,=94 a press statement issued by Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Deputy General Secretary, NDC, said in Accra.

The statement said: "Against this backdrop, the NDC wishes to reiterate its sympathy for the plight of the striking teachers as stated in an earlier press statement dated June 9, 2005 on similar issues." The Party expressed concern that two weeks after senior secondary schools have re-opened, teachers were absent from the classrooms. The statement said: "It is pertinent to note that the four weeks strike action by NAGRAT last year, gravely affected the performance of students, in their final examination, that left many parents unhappy and disappointed considering the enormous financial sacrifices they put into preparing their wards for the exams.

It said the NDC was extremely worried about the attitude of the government to this growing menace of strike actions by graduate teachers.

The Party said the Government's poor handling of the core issues affecting graduate teachers was dislocating student, parents and the nation's human resource and productivity agenda. "This dangerous attitude of the Government cannot continue at the expense of education and productivity, hence the NPP government must handle this NAGRAT issue with dispatch, equity and parity," the statement said.

The NDC called on the Government to stop its silent and evasive handling of the issues affecting NAGRAT to enable the striking members to return to the classroom happily.