Haruna Iddrisu Finally Addresses the Difficult Conditions Facing Teachers Across Ghana

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has openly admitted that some teachers across Ghana are still working under very difficult conditions, as the government faces growing pressure to address concerns in the education sector.

The minister acknowledged that many teachers continue to deal with poor working conditions and difficult conditions of service, while calling for a joint effort to improve the management of the economy.

“I would admit that there are teachers in Ghana who are still working under very difficult circumstances and very difficult conditions across the country, with very poor conditions of service. But we must all work together to improve the management of the economy.”

His comment comes at a time when teacher-related issues have become a major national discussion, following the nationwide strike by three pre-tertiary teacher unions.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers and the Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana began the industrial action on September 25. Their concerns include delayed promotion payments, placement of promoted teachers on new salary grades, negotiations over conditions of service and a proposed 20 per cent allowance for teachers working in deprived areas.

The strike has already affected teaching and learning in public schools in different parts of the country. Reports from Accra, for instance, showed some classrooms largely empty as teachers stayed away from work.

The government has been trying to resolve the dispute through meetings with the unions and the agencies responsible for salaries and teacher management.

Iddrisu has said the government is working to validate the records of affected teachers so that outstanding payments can be processed. The government has targeted October 16 for the first tranche of the outstanding payments and October 30 for placing promoted teachers on their appropriate grades.

The minister has also given teachers a strong personal assurance, saying he would have no honour if the promotion arrears were not paid by October 30.

However, the wider problem goes beyond the current arrears. Teachers have for years raised concerns about pay, accommodation, teaching materials, classroom conditions and the challenges faced by those posted to deprived communities.

Iddrisu’s latest admission therefore adds another layer to the ongoing debate. While the government says it is working to solve the immediate financial problems, teachers and their unions are also demanding longer-term improvements.