Polytechnic Students To Demonstrate Over POTAG’s Concerns

The Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students, GNUPS, has warned it may be forced to embark on a peaceful demonstration if Government does not resolve the impasse that has compelled polytechnic teachers to abandon the classroom.

GNUPS is however appealing to the lecturers to soften their stance as the ongoing nationwide strike action will have dire consequences on the timely conduct of their examinations which were scheduled to begin on Wednesday May 21, 2014.

Polytechnic teachers across the country have withdrawn all academic services in protest against government’s scrapping of their book and research allowances to be replaced with a research and innovation fund.

The action is already affecting polytechnic students as their upcoming examinations have been thrown out of schedule.

The National President of the union, Suleiman Hakim, told Ultimate Radio the timing of the strike action is most unfair to the students preparing for examinations.

“At this crucial moment, students at the Kumasi Polytechnic, Takoradi and others are ready to write their exams but have been stopped. Accra, Wa and others were also to write their mid-sem examinations which have come to a halt,” he lamented.

He said although they respect POTAG’s protest to “get their due, “they want the teachers to consider the plight of the students.

He told Ultimate Radio the union in a statement last week Friday called on stakeholders to discuss the issues raised for an amicable settlement.

Suleiman Hakim said GNUPS is going to petition the Ministry of Education and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to bring speedy resolution to the issues concerning the book and research allowances.

He added however that GNUPS is considering holding a “peaceful demonstration” in solidarity with their teachers if the impasse is not resolved soon