GES directs schools opening despite strike over new GES DG

The management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed Heads of schools to keep schools open despite the ongoing strike action by teacher unions over the appointment of Eric Nkansah as Director-General of the Service.

In a statement copied to AcademicWeek, GES said it has directed all Heads of public Kindergarten and primary schools as well as Junior High Schools to mobilise and ensure the safety and well-being of the prospective students.

“Meanwhile, parents are advised to remain calm and be assured that the management is closely monitoring the situation and will advise on the way forward,” the Ghana Education Service (GES) stated in a press release.

GES’s directive comes after the pre-tertiary education teacher unions on November 4, 2022, declared a nationwide strike action following the government’s decision not to terminate the contract of Eric Nkansah acting as the Director-General of Ghana Education Service.

The nationwide strike action comes after the unions citing discrimination against teachers gave the central government a November 4, 2022 deadline to relieve of duty Mr Eric Nkansah who according to them is not an educationist.

In a statement copied to AcademicWeek, the teachers said “we have decided to embark on a strike from November 4, 2022. We are informing the public that we are withdrawing our services in all pre-tertiary education institutions.”

With 17 Educationists appointed Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) since 1974 to date, the pre-tertiary unions say Dr Eric Nkansah with a banking background is not qualified to manage education in the country.

“It must be stated that the Director-General position is preserved for Educationists and has been occupied by Educationists since 1974 to date. 17 Director-Generals have been appointed to serve at GES,” the unions stated.