Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has responded to the peaceful protests by unposted teachers who hit the streets on Wednesday to demand postings.
Addressing journalists on November 19, the Minister reaffirmed that the education sector remains Ghana’s largest employer. He noted that resolving issues concerning unposted teachers is a key government priority, and steps are already underway to place them in schools.
Haruna Iddrisu announced that Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 6,100 teachers, all from the 2023 graduate cohort, who he said have been duly accounted for in government recruitment records.
“Education remains Ghana’s largest employer. I understand that some striking teachers are looking for us on the streets of Accra. To respond to them, Cabinet gave approval for us to recruit some 6100 more teachers and therefore that category of teachers would belong to the 2023 cohort, are adequately captured,” he said.
He stressed that government remains committed to integrating trained teachers into the system, adding that the ongoing recruitment will help clear part of the backlog of unposted educators.
The Minister further urged the protesting teachers to return to their offices for verification processes.
“I will be surprised if it is the same group that is on the streets. They rather should be looking for us and going back to offices for purpose of audit and identification to be reinstated to be paid,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers from the Colleges of Education has staged a demonstration to demand postings after multiple appeals to government.
The group, comprising the 2022 and 2023 backlog, says its members have not been posted despite passing the Teacher Licensure Examination and completing national service.
The protest began at Tema Station in Accra and is expected to move to the Jubilee House, where the group plans to submit a petition to the presidency.