A former Education Minister under the Kufuor administration, Papa Owusu Akomah says if the government had earlier negotiated with tertiary teachers over the setting up of a research fund, there would have been no industrial actions.
“When workers have been enjoying a benefit for a very long time, it is very difficult particularly when it’s become part of their compensation package to change it without negotiation and that is the problem facing us presently,” he said.
The government earlier this year announced it was scrapping the research and book allowance to be replaced by a research fund.
This announcement was not well received and the university and polytechnic teachers have since been up in arms to get the government to rescind its decision.
Polytechnic teachers declared a strike and have stayed out of the classroom for almost two months.
University lecturers have also declared a strike over the same issue.
The Education Ministry has promised to pay the research and book allowance but all efforts to get the tertiary teachers to return to work have proved futile.
The Ministry is therefore considering dragging them to the National Labour Commission (NLC).
On Eyewitness News on Friday, Mr. Ankomah noted that the book and research allowance has been in place for over 10 years and it is likely not all beneficiaries use the money for its intended purpose hence, the decision by the government to set up a research fund.
He said negotiations would have enabled the university and polytechnic lecturers to understand and possibly agree to the new fund.
“In my opinion, this is a matter that should be negotiated and I should think that everyone should try to resort to the processes laid down by law to resolve whatever differences that they may have,” he counselled.
The former Minister appealed to both parties involved in the matter that “in the interest of the students, let’s negotiate.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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