Tema, Oct. 17, GNA - Some members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Tema have joined the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) strike and have deserted the classrooms. This has compelled pupils and students to roam the town with some grouping under trees to discuss their plight.

Some of the schools the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited on Tuesday revealed that some of the pupils and students were present at school and were playing and some of the schools were closed.

At about 0840 hours just a few pupils were at the Community Five Number Three Primary School with a teacher supervising them. The Head Teacher, Mrs Janet Obeng Armah, told the GNA that they were working but there was no sign of teaching.

The Head Master of the JSS of the same school, Mr Joseph Edmund Fleischer, said five of the graduate teachers among his staff refused to report to work yesterday and today the Certificate "A" colleagues were equally not present at the time of the visit but he could not explain their absence.

Mr Fleischer said regardless of the strike he, as an administrator, was present and he was seen registering the final year students. The situation was not different at the Akodzo JSS where Mrs Florida Dwamena Akoto said she had asked the children to go home because there was no teacher to control their movements. Mrs Akoto said she did not have the power to ask the children to stay at home.

Children of Tema Star Basic who went to school returned home because the doors were still not opened and no teacher was around. The Twedaase JSS showed a different picture as a teacher was seen teaching the final year students. Most of the students pleaded with their striking teachers to return to the classroom while they continued with their negotiations with the government.

Mr Robert Addotey, the Tema Municipal GNAT Secretary, told the GNA on telephone that he was surprised at the teachers' action because "they know the issue is at the negotiation table."

He said there was no deadlock in the negotiations and did not understand why the GNAT teachers should join the strike and renewed his plea to them to resume work.

Members of NAGRAT embarked on a strike action about a month ago to demand better conditions of service and salaries.