Teacher trainees to boycott lectures Thursday over nonpayment of feeding grant

Teacher trainees across the country are to boycott academic activities at their various campuses to demand the immediate release of their feeding grant from government, which they say has been in arrears since three semesters. A statement issued by the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana on Monday asked all members to wear red armband and boycott classes on June 1 and 2 to pressure the government to act. They have also threatened to march peacefully to the Ministry of Education on June 5 should the government fail to release funds for the payment of the feeding grant. “We want to state clearly that, if government fails to release the money before 5th June, we shall move peacefully to the ministry of education with all SRC presidents of various colleges and their executives together with the leadership of the association to seek answers to our quests,” it said. They have indicated their willingness stay over nights at the ministry until the money is released, adding they will rescind their decision only if the government pays the grant. According to the trainees, ” innocent trainees have been forced by principals to pay these monies as government failed to release the monies on time”. That, they explained, has made life for them unbearable, indicating that “We are in a state where we cannot foot the bills of feeding fees any longer. As we speak, most trainees risk the chance of writing their end of semester exams because they owe feeding fees”. Again, the trainees want the government to pay the seven months arrears of newly trained teachers, and urged the affected teachers to join in the campaign to get the government to release funds for payment. By editors.3news.com|Ghana