Kumasi, March 18, GNA - Although the striking

teachers in the Kumasi Metropolis have returned to the

classroom, school attendance is low. A tour of some of the schools' by the Ghana News Agency

including the AME Zion, Atwere M/A Basic, T.I. Ahmadiyya

=91B' and Amakom-Abrotia Basic showed the classrooms were

virtually empty. This made it difficult for the teachers to carry out effective

academic work, except for final year Junior High Schools

students, writing mock examinations. Mr Isaac Ofori Boamah, Assistant Head teacher of the

Ahmadiyya 91B', said only about 40 per cent of the school's

pupils of about 600 was present. He was, however, confident that the situation would

improve from Monday, March 21. At Amakom-Abrotia, just about 100 out of the more than

600 pupils showed up. The teachers, angered by what they said was the unfairness

in the single spine salary structure boycotted the classrooms

and vowed not to rescind the decision until they saw

improvement in their salaries. The government responded by announcing a 15 per

cent retention allowance to them.