Public Schools Resume Today As Teacher Unions Suspend Nationwide Strike

Story By: Zainab Ali

Public basic schools across Ghana are expected to resume normal academic activities today, Monday, October 12, following the suspension of a nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions.

The industrial action, which began on September 25, disrupted teaching and learning as teachers pressed the government to address outstanding allowances, salary arrears and other conditions of service.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers suspended the strike on October 9 after engagements with the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

The decision is expected to bring relief to pupils, parents and school-related businesses affected by the disruption. Parents had to make alternative arrangements for their children while some vendors and transport operators experienced interruptions to their usual school-day activities.

According to the Ghana News Agency, the negotiations addressed outstanding promotion and deprived-area allowances, alongside other payments owed to teachers.

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission indicated that arrears relating to promotion and placement were expected to be paid to 51,000 teachers by October 16, with the remaining payments expected to be completed by the end of October.

The government also indicated that arrangements for the deprived-area allowance would be announced in January 2027, while payments relating to other allowances were expected at later dates.

Although the suspension clears the way for classes to resume, the outstanding commitments remain important to the unions. Meeting the agreed timelines will be essential to sustaining industrial peace and preventing another disruption.

The return to classrooms also raises questions about how schools will recover lost instructional time and support pupils whose academic progress may have been affected.

For parents, teachers and learners, the immediate priority is restoring normal school routines while ensuring that the issues that led to the strike receive lasting attention.

The development highlights the importance of continued dialogue between government and organised labour in protecting both workers’ interests and pupils’ access to education.