‘We Are on Our Knees’: Apaak Pleads With Striking Teachers to Return

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Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, says the government will continue appealing to striking teachers to return to the classroom as discussions aimed at addressing their grievances remain ongoing.

Dr Apaak stressed that the government had no intention of adopting a confrontational approach towards the teachers, adding that their concerns were acknowledged and were being considered as part of efforts to resolve the impasse.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, October 8, 2026, he maintained that the government would keep appealing to the teachers until they resumed work.

“It’s not a crime to plead. So as long as they are not in the classroom, we will continue to plead with them,” he said.

The strike, which has disrupted academic activities and kept pupils out of school for approximately two weeks, revolves around three major concerns: delays in the payment of promotion-related benefits, the proposed deprived rural-area allowance, and the renewal of the teachers’ collective agreement.

According to Dr Apaak, the government appreciates the critical role teachers play in the education sector and remains committed to addressing the issues that have led to the industrial action.

He insisted that the government had neither dismissed the teachers’ demands nor questioned their legitimacy.

“We are not antagonistic. We are not challenging their demands. We have not said anywhere that they are not justified,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister said the prolonged disruption to teaching and learning remained a major concern for the government, which was working to ensure that normal academic activities resumed as soon as possible.

Reiterating his appeal to the striking teachers, Dr Apaak said the government was prepared to continue pleading with them while efforts were made to resolve their outstanding concerns.

“We will continue to supplicate. We are lying down prostrate. We are on our knees pleading with our teachers to come back to the classroom whilst we address their legitimate concerns,” he added.

Dr Apaak, however, declined to provide details of the specific issues holding up the negotiations, explaining that disclosing such information publicly while discussions were ongoing would be inappropriate.

He expressed confidence that progress would be made towards resolving the dispute, particularly regarding the processing of promotion-related payments owed to affected teachers.

The government’s appeal comes as the strike continues to disrupt classroom activities, with negotiations expected to address the outstanding concerns and pave the way for teachers to return to their posts.