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The Students Representative Councils (SRC) of the various polytechnics have expressed their displeasure over the failure of government and the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) to re-open the schools after nearly three months of negotiations.
POTAG in May embarked on a strike to demand payment of their book and research allowance which was in arrears.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the SRC leader of Kumasi Polytechnic, Benjamin Kodjo Sakyi confirmed that lecturers of various polytechnics had been on strike for about 131 days saying, “they declared a strike on 15 May, so three months now, four days since our teachers went on strike.”
He described the decision as “unfortunate," adding that students have been battling with academic challenges since their lecturers embarked on a strike.
“Since POTAG declared a strike, it has not been easy for students, especially the final year and continuing ones,” he said.
He noted some of the polytechnic students are confused as to whether to embark on their industrial attachment or not, adding that, “those embarking on their attachment have lost concentration” due to the impasse.
“For the final years, theirs is very serious because their project work is hanging, and they don’t know what to do,” he added.
Mr. Sakyi also said, “since they declared the strike, the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) have met to “compel both parties to come into a consensus in order to resolve this issue amicably for us to come back to our lecture halls.”
“We have been embarking on a series of demonstrations against the government to compel it to make a commitment for POTAG to call off the strike,”he added.
He was however quick to add that POTAG started making new demands after government had resolved to meet the concerns the Association initially raised.
“Later on, when government showed the commitment that it is willing to pay the Book and Research allowance for this year, POTAG changed their stance that they want to be paid in the current dollar rate,” he explained.
He said about 70,000 students have been home since the strike, adding that students’ future will be in “jeopardy” if the problem is not resolved.
Meanwhile, the President of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic SRC, Ayuba Abdul Rakman says government and POTAG have remained adamant though students have called on POTAG and government to resolve the matter.
He said the academic year can be “salvaged” if measures are taken to resolve the problem.
A student from the Tamale Polytechnic, Adam Baba said there is currently “no academic work going on” in the school.
He said the school is empty since students have left for their respective homes.