Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, has said the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) are working in collaboration to improve the welfare, motivation and retention of teachers.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the new measures are particularly for those in rural and deprived communities, adding that Teacher welfare is a national priority.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on July 2, 2026, Haruna Iddrisu said, “The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, is implementing a number of targeted strategies to improve the welfare, motivation and retention of teachers across the country, particularly those posted to rural and underserved areas.”
“Teacher welfare is positioned as a national priority to strengthen their motivation, dignity and retention, and for long-term education outcome gains. As part of government efforts to attract, motivate and retain teachers in deprived and underserved communities, special incentives have been put in place for teachers who are self-posting to such areas,” he stated.
The Education Minister added, “I am happy to note that one of these incentives is a reduction in the number of years required to qualify for study leave. Originally, it was three years if you were in a deprived area. We have reduced it now to two years. So any person who is self-posting to a rural deprived area after two years of service can apply for study leave with pay”.
“We are also engaged in continuous education and capacity building of teachers across the country. In addition, the government is committed to rolling out a 20 per cent salary-related rural posting allowance for teachers serving in rural and deprived areas. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education are working on implementing that. A significant thing that affects the welfare of teachers is their shelter housing.”
Haruna Iddrisu added, “A significant thing that affects the welfare of teachers is their shelter housing. We are currently engaging in some discussion to deploy the Teacher Dabre Initiative of President Mahama, which was in the NDC manifesto, which will provide accommodation for teachers in rural areas to address the housing challenges that affect teacher deployment and retention in those areas”.
“Under this initiative, deliberate measures are being taken to ensure that the construction of new school facilities is accompanied by teacher accommodation. So this time we have directed that if contracts are awarded for school blocks, they must naturally include accommodation facilities for teachers,” he added.
In related news, Haruna Iddrisu has revealed that Ghana is facing a shortage, with the country requiring between 50,000 and 90,000 additional Teachers.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana requires between 50,000 and 90,000 additional educators to adequately serve schools across the country.
The Education Minister disclosed that, although the demand for teachers remains high, he is constrained by a limited budgetary allocation.
He disclosed that ongoing reforms within the education sector have increased staffing requirements.
Haruna Iddrisu highlighted that teacher recruitment must now cater for both the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, June 18, the Minister explained, “The country has evolved, and we have taken reforms that will benefit education in the foreseeable future. We now have the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and the GES, and so when we are recruiting, we allocate teachers for TVET and GES, but there is a difference between need and what I have budgetary approval for,” the Minister stated.
“My need for teachers is between 50,000 and 90,000, but I had clearance for 7,000, and that is what I am making do with.”
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