GES Bans Teachers From Picketing Over Unpaid Arrears

According to the statement, the long-standing administrative structure within the GES requires that concerns raised by teachers or students first be addressed at the school level by the head of the institution. If the matter remains unresolved, it should then be escalated to the district office, followed by the regional office, and only reach the national level when necessary.

Mr. Fenyi explained that the existing system has proven effective over the years, with school, district and regional offices collectively resolving more than 60 percent of issues brought before them.

However, the Service expressed concern over what it described as an increasing trend of some teachers leaving their classrooms to travel directly to the national office to pursue grievances, thereby bypassing the established administrative chain.

GES emphasised that teachers must remain focused on their primary role of teaching, stressing that administrative matters should be handled through the appropriate channels.

“Teachers should not combine classroom responsibilities with administrative work. Paperwork and administrative processes should be handled by the office people, while teachers focus on teaching,” the statement noted.

The Service also indicated that the current government has strengthened the authority of school, district and regional offices as part of broader efforts to decentralise operations within the education sector.

According to GES, the move is intended to ensure that most issues are resolved at the local level where they arise, while minimising disruptions to teaching and learning in schools.