Teachers’ Grievances : Need To Show Good Faith

The working environment, spirit and attainable overall objectives from every indication are possible following the laudable efforts government has deployed through the measures to address the grievances teachers trade unions of the public basic and secondary education sectors posed last school year that threatened the academic programme. The teachers who went on strike, through their trade unions presented some 18 demands which they wanted government to address immediately. The grievances ranged from immediate payment of debts owed teachers in terms of arrears, increments, family allowances and other bonuses, revision of the special status of teachers, automatic adjustment of salaries, increase of basic salaries and housing allowances, transport allowances for teachers in rural areas and automation of the payment due for advancement. They also called for the increase in proficiency allowances and documentation and research bonuses, full payment arrears without levying taxes on the said arrears and immediate abolition of the 2/3 system, thus the full payment of salaries.
The current academic year at the level of basic and secondary education should neither have any threats nor perturbation. Teachers of both sectors have to show good faith and focus on educating children as the measures instructed by the Head of State to address their problems are diligently being implemented. The promptitude with which government reacted to the grievances requires that teachers and other staff should appreciate the efforts so far put in place and focus on  exercising their noble profession knowing that the future of the country depends on the foundation they lay now through the children.
Just as with every core, all cannot be well. Strikes are legitimate and legal in presenting grievances and this must respect the legal framework. The ultimate goal of tabling any demands is for solutions. In this direction, teachers and other staff of the public education sector can hardly deny the strides already taken to find lasting solutions to their problems. Thus, there is need to continue to give peace and dialogue a chance. This more so, because the other aspects they raised are being tackled.
The beginning of the 2022/2023 school year following reports, has been characterised by a lot of enthusiasm manifested by government, pupils and students, as well as other stakeholders targeting total success. Before D-Day last Monday, a series of preparatory activities had taken place at every level and all was set. The enthusiasm should further be bolstered by teachers for harmony, peace and concord to reign in the educational milieu. This is because building kids for a better future requires a calm and serene atmosphere in which the entire education family have to show total commitment for optimal results to be attained. In some quarters, there is still expression of discontentment as some activists who still continue to feel that strike should be the way forward. Indeed, any strike at this moment in the public basic and secondary education sectors will be more or less baseless, senseless and uncalled for as the legitimate claims of teachers of both sectors have been largely satisfied and much is still being done taking into account the international and national economic contexts. The school milieu needs serenity. Much still has to be improved upon in the country’s public service in terms of better working conditions and remuneration. Indeed, there are general problems government is reflecting on how to tackle and the case of teachers cannot be handled in isolation.
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