Don’t Disrupt Academic Calendar- Eduwatch Urges UTAG

The Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has urged restraint over the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)’s concerns about the Ghana Education Tertiary Commission (GTEC).

Acknowledging the urgency of its concerns, the CSO indicated that some of the policy issues are above GTEC and thereby no need to disrupt the academic calendar with a strike action.

“I respectfully appeal to UTAG to remain measured and urge the Minister for Education to urgently mediate between UTAG and GTEC. However, at this critical moment, calm and restraint are essential, as escalation risks harming the academic calendar.”

The Director-General, Kofi Asare, further advocated for academic freedom and university autonomy, adding that regulatory oversight must coexist, not collide.

He suggested dialogue, not hardened positions, as the most effective resolution to such conflicts.

Last week, the University of Ghana chapter of UTAG demanded the dismissal of Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Director-General of the Commission, over a leadership crisis.

This call has been backed by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter, threatening to embark on an industrial action.

UTAG-UG criticises GTEC’s focus on minor issues while major tertiary education challenges, including worsening student-lecturer ratio, persist.

The group condemns GTEC’s interference in university governance while opposing the new retirement directive, saying it exacerbates staffing issues.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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