🚨 TEACHER UNIONS STRIKE CONTINUES AFTER GOVERNMENT TALKS END WITHOUT AGREEMENT
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PRESENTED A NEW PROPOSAL TO THE STRIKING TEACHER UNIONS, BUT THE UNIONS SAY THEY WILL CONSIDER IT AND RESPOND ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 5.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PRESENTED A NEW PROPOSAL TO THE STRIKING TEACHER UNIONS, BUT THE UNIONS SAY THEY WILL CONSIDER IT AND RESPOND ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 5.
The teacher unions strike remains in force after an emergency meeting between the government and the leadership of the striking teacher unions ended without an immediate agreement on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The meeting, convened following President John Dramani Mahama’s intervention in the dispute, brought government representatives and the leadership of the major pre-tertiary teacher unions together to discuss the issues behind the nationwide industrial action.
According to a report by 3News published after the meeting, the government presented a new proposal to the unions. However, the unions did not immediately accept the proposal. They indicated that they would consider it and communicate their response on Monday, October 5.
For teachers across the country, the immediate position is therefore clear: the strike has not been called off.
TEACHER UNIONS STRIKE: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MEETING?
The emergency engagement was held on October 2 as part of efforts to resolve the dispute between the government and the striking teacher unions.
The meeting followed an invitation issued on behalf of President Mahama for representatives of the government, education-sector agencies and teacher unions to discuss the unions’ demands and their financial implications.
The invited government institutions included the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Employment, Ministry of Education, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, Ghana Education Service and other relevant agencies. The leadership of the teacher unions was also invited.
The meeting was therefore expected to provide an opportunity for the parties to examine the outstanding concerns and consider possible steps toward resolving the industrial dispute.
However, according to 3News, the engagement ended without government convincing the unions to immediately call off the strike. A new proposal was presented, but the unions chose to study it before giving their response.
READ RELATED RESOURCES HERE: TEACHER UNIONS DECLARE NATIONWIDE STRIKE EFFECTIVE TODAY
TEACHER UNIONS STRIKE REMAINS IN FORCE
The most important information for teachers following today’s development is that the teacher unions strike is still ongoing.
3News reports that the unions have directed their members to continue with the industrial action while they consider the latest government proposal. Their response is expected on Monday, October 5.
This means teachers should not interpret today’s government meeting as an announcement that the strike has been suspended.
There has been no confirmed announcement from the teacher unions that they have called off the industrial action.
The unions have instead maintained their position while they examine what government has put before them.
DETAILED LESSON PLANS & SCHEMES OF WORK
Get detailed lesson plans and Schemes of Work for Nursery, KG, Primary, JHS and SHS to help you prepare, plan and teach effectively.
WHAT ARE THE TEACHER UNIONS DEMANDING?
The teacher unions strike began on September 25, 2026, after GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG raised concerns over several outstanding issues.
Among the major issues are the delayed negotiation of a new Collective Agreement, the placement of teachers who have successfully completed promotion processes and payment of related arrears, as well as the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance.
The unions have previously maintained that these matters have remained unresolved despite several engagements with government institutions.
1. PROMOTION PLACEMENT AND ARREARS
The placement of promoted teachers remains one of the key issues in the dispute.
Government has said the Ghana Education Service has been working to submit outstanding data on promoted teachers to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department for payroll processing.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu previously said the government expected the data exercise to continue until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5, with the aim of processing affected teachers onto their new grades. He also indicated that where supplementary payments arise, CAGD would address them.
The unions, however, have continued to demand concrete implementation.
READ RELATED RESOURCES HERE: WHY YOUR TEACHER SALARY FINISHES TOO QUICKLY: THE FINANCIAL LESSON EVERY TEACHER SHOULD HEAR
2. THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
Another major issue is the conclusion of negotiations for a new Collective Agreement and conditions of service.
The unions have complained about delays in concluding the agreement following the expiration of the previous arrangement.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is expected to continue discussions with the unions on October 6, adding another important date to the developing situation.
3. THE 20% DEPRIVED AREA ALLOWANCE
The implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance is also central to the dispute.
Government has previously outlined a validation process for the allowance and said it remains committed to beginning implementation in January 2027, subject to the completion of the validation exercise and an agreed roadmap.
The unions, however, have continued to seek concrete commitments and implementation.
WHY THE UNIONS ARE CONSIDERING THE NEW PROPOSAL
The latest development is important because the unions have not simply rejected the government’s new proposal.
Instead, they have chosen to consider it before communicating their position.
That means the next major development is likely to come from the unions themselves on Monday, October 5.
Until then, the current position remains that the teacher unions strike continues.
This is consistent with earlier statements from the unions that they wanted concrete and binding action rather than assurances alone. NAGRAT, for example, previously said it would not call off the strike until government provided concrete and binding timelines for addressing the outstanding concerns.
Regional branches of the unions have also continued to support the national industrial action. The Upper East regional leadership, for example, reaffirmed its support for the strike on October 1, while Western Region unions also backed the continued action.
DETAILED LESSON PLANS & SCHEMES OF WORK
Get detailed lesson plans and Schemes of Work for Nursery, KG, Primary, JHS and SHS to help you prepare, plan and teach effectively.
GOVERNMENT APPEALS FOR TEACHERS TO RETURN
Following today’s meeting, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu appealed to teachers to call off the strike in the interest of learners.
He argued that every day of lost instructional time could affect students’ learning and examination performance.
The government’s position therefore remains focused on getting teachers back into classrooms while negotiations and implementation processes continue.
The unions, however, have not accepted that appeal at this stage.
Their decision to consider the new proposal means the dispute has moved into another phase: the government has put forward another offer, and the unions now have to decide whether it adequately addresses their concerns.
READ RELATED RESOURCES HERE: BREAK TIME: 3 POWERFUL WAYS TEACHERS CAN STAY PROFESSIONAL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5: THE NEXT BIG DATE
For teachers, Monday is now an important date to watch.
According to the latest report, the unions will communicate their response to the government’s new proposal on October 5. Until that communication is made, the strike remains in force.
There is also a significant development concerning World Teachers’ Day, which falls on October 5.
3News reports that the unions have asked teachers to individually mark World Teachers’ Day while the industrial action continues.
The timing means Monday could become an important moment for both the industrial dispute and the wider conversation about teachers and education in Ghana.
WHAT TEACHERS SHOULD KNOW NOW
At the time of publishing, the situation can be summarized in five points:
1. The government and teacher unions met on October 2.
2. Government presented a new proposal.
3. The unions have not yet accepted the proposal.
4. The teacher unions strike remains in force.
5. The unions are expected to communicate their response on Monday, October 5.
Therefore, reports suggesting that the strike has already been called off should be treated cautiously unless they are supported by an official communication from the unions.
The next confirmed decision from the unions will be particularly important because it could determine whether teachers remain off duty or whether the unions decide that sufficient progress has been made to return to the classroom.
SMART TEACHERS AVENUE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENTS
The teacher unions strike has now entered another critical stage.
Today’s meeting did not produce an immediate resolution, but it has created another opportunity for the parties to examine the outstanding issues.
The government has presented a new proposal. The unions are considering it. Teachers remain on strike for now.
The next major development is expected on Monday, October 5, 2026, when the unions are expected to communicate their response.
Smart Teachers Avenue will continue monitoring the situation and provide verified updates as the discussions progress.
Source and editorial note: This publication is based on current reporting from 3News, Ghana News Agency and MyJoyOnline. Statements and positions attributed to the government or teacher unions are presented as reported claims or official positions. Smart Teachers Avenue has not independently verified the substance of the government’s latest proposal because the full proposal has not been publicly released in the sources reviewed for this report.
Source credit: 3News, Ghana News Agency and MyJoyOnline.
Share your experience and ideas in the comments. Your strategy could help another teacher take the first step.
Follow Smart Teachers Avenue on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube for practical teacher development, professional growth and financial education.
YOU CAN CONTACT US ON ↓
📞 Phone: +233 503910155 / +233233910155
📧 Email: info.teachersavenue@gmail.com
💬 WhatsApp: Click Here To WhatsApp Us
Follow Smart Teachers Avenue and Stay connected with us for daily educational resources, financial education, teaching tips and school leadership insights.
📘 Facebook – FOLLOW HERE
🎵 TikTok – FOLLOW HERE
▶️ YouTube – SUBSCRIBE HERE
✈️ Telegram Channel – JOIN HERE
👥 Telegram Community Chat: – JOIN HERE
👥 Facebook Community Chat: – JOIN HERE
WhatsApp Channel – FOLLOW HERE for daily updates, teaching resources and exclusive educational content.
Join our growing community of teachers across Ghana and beyond who trust Smart Teachers Avenue as their preferred platform for teaching resources, professional development, financial education and school leadership.
