Dear Trainees — Get Ready to Go Home: A Stern Warning from H.E. Divine
In a forceful interview on JoyNews, President H.E. Divine warned that the ongoing CETAG strike may soon force teacher trainees off campus — and he left no room for ambiguity.
With campuses already strained by interruptions, H.E. Divine told viewers:
“If this strike persists, there may be no option but to advise all trainees to pack their bags and go home until academic activities fully resume.”
The President’s statement is not just rhetorical. It is a clear signal that stakeholders must act quickly to prevent another academic emergency for trainees still serving the classroom. Last year’s aftermath of the strike left many trainees exhausted and shortchanged, forced into an impossible schedule that compressed 14 weeks of required work into just 6 weeks.
“We will not accept a repeat of last year’s compressed calendar where trainees were forced to complete fourteen weeks of academic work in just six weeks. It was unbearable, and we cannot allow that to happen again.”
What this could mean
- Immediate disruption: Trainees may be advised to leave campus and pause placements.
- Academic delays: Graduation and certification timelines could shift if teaching does not resume.
- Wellbeing concerns: Compressed make-up schedules strain mental health and reduce training quality.
H.E. Divine’s appeal
Ending his address, the President made a direct appeal to education authorities, unions, and policymakers:
“We urge all stakeholders to intervene immediately and get our lecturers back to the classroom before the situation worsens.”
The call is urgent but simple: restore teaching so that trainees can complete their practical requirements fairly — not in frantic catch-up sprints that undermine learning.
What trainees should do now
1. Stay informed — follow official campus channels and reputable news outlets.
2. Back up coursework and practical records — keep digital copies of lesson plans and assessments.
3. Check welfare provisions — if asked to leave campus, know your entitlements and next steps with campus administrations.
4. Reach out — student unions and support offices may have contingency plans.
Final note
President H.E. Divine’s message is both a warning and a plea. It is a reminder that when education systems break down, the most vulnerable — in this case, teacher trainees — pay the price. The question now is whether leaders will act fast enough to prevent another academic crisis.
