The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has mounted pressure on government over its decision to recruit only 7,000 teachers, describing the move as woefully inadequate in the face of soaring unemployment among trained educators across the country.
According to GNAT, more than 100,000 professionally trained teachers from Colleges of Education and other tertiary institutions remain jobless, making the recruitment target far below what is needed to address the growing crisis.
The Association said the situation has become alarming and warned that leaving thousands of qualified young teachers unemployed could create serious social and economic consequences if urgent action is not taken.
The concerns were contained in a communiqué issued after a National Council meeting held at Ejisu-Abankro and read by GNAT National President, Mr Prosper Tachie.
GNAT argued that government’s decision contradicts earlier assurances given during public sector salary negotiations, where commitments were made to expand employment opportunities in essential sectors such as education.
The Association further stressed that many schools continue to face teacher shortages due to rising attrition within the Ghana Education Service, with thousands of teachers reportedly leaving the profession in recent years.
It said the departure of teachers, coupled with the growing number of unemployed graduates, presents an opportunity for government to fill vacancies while improving learning outcomes in schools nationwide.
GNAT also demanded that priority be given to teachers who completed their training years ago and are still waiting to be employed, insisting that the recruitment process must be fair and transparent.
Beyond recruitment concerns, the Association expressed frustration over the non-payment of intervention allowances to Senior High School teachers since 2024.
It noted that teachers in schools operating under the double-track system often work throughout periods when others are on vacation but have not been compensated for the additional workload.
GNAT is therefore calling on government to immediately clear all outstanding arrears and introduce compensation measures for teachers handling extra responsibilities.
The Association said while it remains open to dialogue with government, urgent action is needed to prevent further strain on Ghana’s education system.
