2023 teacher trainee graduates give govt deadline for recruitment

Teacher trainees who completed the College of Education in 2023 and have completed their mandatory national service but are currently not employed in service to teach have threatened to embark on a nationwide protest by November 10, 2025.

Speaking in an interview monitored by GhanaEducation.org, representatives of the graduate teachers said they would proceed with the nationwide demonstration if the government fails to provide a clear timeline for their recruitment.

They expressed deep frustration over what they describe as the government’s neglect of their plight.

According to them, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have failed to communicate any official plan regarding their postings, leaving many in financial distress.

“We have fulfilled every requirement expected of us — from passing our licensure exams to completing national service — yet we remain at home. We are not asking for favors; we are asking for what is due us,” one spokesperson said.

The 2023 Colleges of Education (CoE) teacher trainees have therefore issued an ultimatum, demanding that the government announce a definite recruitment schedule before the 2026 Budget presentation.

Failure to do so, they warn, will lead to peaceful demonstrations across major cities, including Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has said plans are underway for the central government to recruit 50,000 teachers and 10,000 non-teaching staff this academic year.

Addressing the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Mr Haruna said adequate provisions have been made in the 2025 national budget for the mass recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff.

“Mr Speaker, as I have assured this House, 50,000 teachers will be recruited, along with 10,000 non-teaching staff. Adequate provision was made for this in the 2025 budget,” Mr Haruna Iddrisu told Parliament on Wednesday.

The Education Minister said the impending recruitment of the 50,000 teachers and 10,000 non-teaching staff in the country forms part of President John Mahama’s administration’s efforts to strengthen the education sector.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu said the mass recruitment process would begin once the Finance Minister had given the clearance and the Auditor-General had completed a validation process to get rid of ghost names on teachers’ payroll.