Government to recruit 10,000 teachers, 2,000 non-teaching staff in 2027 – Haruna Iddrisu

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government will recruit an additional 10,000 teachers and 2,000 non-teaching staff in 2027 to strengthen staffing in schools across the country.

He said the recruitment would be captured in the 2027 national budget as part of efforts to improve teaching and learning and provide schools with the necessary human resources to function effectively.

Mr Iddrisu made the announcement at the 150th anniversary celebration of Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, where he also outlined the government’s plans to expand educational infrastructure and improve access to quality secondary education.

The 150th anniversary celebration brought together the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, traditional authorities, government officials, representatives of the Methodist Church, old students, staff and other stakeholders to celebrate the institution’s history and contribution to education in Ghana.

He said the additional non-teaching staff would include labourers, drivers and other support personnel to ease the administrative and operational burden on schools.

The minister said the government was also undertaking a review of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy introduced in 2017, with a renewed focus on strengthening foundational education, particularly literacy, numeracy and science and mathematics learning.

As part of the infrastructure expansion programme, he said 10 new model senior secondary schools would be constructed across 10 regions, while 30 Category B senior high schools would be upgraded to Category A status.

Mr Iddrisu said the government was also making provision for GH¢250 million from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in the 2027 funding formula to expand infrastructure in the country’s 12 best-performing senior high schools in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The projects would include the construction and expansion of dormitories, classrooms, ICT centres and libraries, with Mfantsipim expected to benefit, including through improvements to its assembly hall.

He said the interventions were intended to address the growing demand for places in high-performing senior high schools.

He disclosed that although 313,000 students applied for admission into Category A schools, available vacancies stood at only 76,000, making placement increasingly difficult.

The minister also called for stronger collaboration among traditional authorities, religious leaders, parents and students to address what he described as growing indiscipline in schools.

He said the government needed the support of all stakeholders to restore discipline and promote respect for teachers, school authorities and established rules.

Touching on the alleged sexual misconduct incident at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Mr Iddrisu said the government would refer the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Attorney-General’s Department and the Ministry of the Interior for the necessary action once the evidence had been established.

He said those found culpable would face the appropriate consequences under the law.

The minister further appealed to traditional rulers to support a nationwide campaign to promote discipline and responsible conduct among students.

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Professor J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyedu, congratulated the school on its 150th anniversary, saying the celebration should go beyond recognising its historical achievements to considering how present and future generations could sustain its legacy.

He said the institution had contributed significantly to the development of generations of Ghanaians who have made their mark in various fields.

He urged students and old boys to draw inspiration from the school’s history while making decisions that would secure its future.

The bishop said the Methodist Church would continue to support the school as part of its educational heritage.

He also commended the school’s old boys for their contributions towards infrastructure development, particularly the chairman, whom he described as the single largest contributor to the school’s infrastructure projects.

The Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, also congratulated Mfantsipim on its 150th anniversary, describing the milestone as a celebration of an enduring institution whose influence has extended beyond the classroom to families, communities and the development of Ghana.

He said since its establishment in 1876, the school had played an important role in the country’s educational history by nurturing generations of students and promoting values such as discipline, intellectual curiosity and service.

He commended past and present teachers and school leaders for their contributions, noting that their work had shaped lives and influenced generations.

Osabarima Kwesi Atta II urged current students to recognise their responsibility in sustaining the school’s legacy through discipline, curiosity, integrity and respect for one another.

He also called on alumni to support the institution through mentorship and investment, saying stronger partnerships among the school, its old students, families and the wider community would help prepare future generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead.