The Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) has announced the suspension of its nationwide strike action and asked members to return to the lecture halls.

Mr Joseph Nkyi Asamoah, the National President said the decision is in response to firm assurances by the Education Ministry that their grievances would be addressed.

A roadmap for re-designation of staff of the colleges in line with the scheme of service, finalization of their conditions of service, job description for the categories of staff and finalization of the harmonized statutes in respect of Act 847, elevating the colleges into tertiary status had been drawn up through stakeholder consultations.

Mr Asamoah, addressing a press conference in Kumasi, said they are satisfied with the progress made and appealed to the teachers to resume work.

He said they took into consideration appeals and interventions made by various stakeholders, especially, “students who are the direct beneficiaries of our services”.

They also acknowledge the critical and facilitating role the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has been playing to get things properly done and their concerns addressed.

Mr Asamoah, however, cautioned that CETAG would have no other option than to once again abandon the classroom “if at the beginning of next academic year, appropriate steps are not taken by the Ministry, National Council for Tertiary Education and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to arrive at specific deadlines when practical steps will be taken to finalize all negotiations on the roadmap”.

The teachers withdrew their services on June 18, citing unjust treatment – their continued placement under the Ghana Education Service (GES) is something they find completely unacceptable and unfair.

They insisted that the new status of the colleges as tertiary institutions places on the teachers additional responsibilities, which must not only be recognized but should attract appropriate remuneration.

They are also asking that the Ministry makes available to them the statutes, conditions and schemes of service of the colleges.