Anum Presby SHS’ Teacher shortage worrying as 21 educators desert posts

While numerous professional teachers seek recruitment by the GES, and many graduate teachers remain unemployed in Ghana, Anum Presby Senior High School in the Eastern Region faces a severe teacher shortage. This situation is deeply concerning and raises questions about the professionalism of the GES and its HR department in ensuring schools are adequately staffed.

The GES’s current practice of recruiting teachers as infrequent events is inadequate. Urgent, proactive measures are needed to establish a pool of qualified recruits on standby, ready for immediate deployment. Waiting for 21 teachers to desert their posts before taking action reveals a lack of leadership and an ineffective management system. How can a school allow such a significant number of teachers to leave? What steps were taken when the first few teachers departed, beyond temporary internal arrangements?

Now that the school is grappling with a severe teacher shortage, causing disruptions to academic activities, the GES must avoid bureaucratic delays in resolving this crisis. The Ghana Education Service already has many teachers on “Pending Consideration.” Deploying these individuals, if they possess the necessary qualifications, would be the most efficient solution, as they have already completed the recruitment process.

The Headmistress, Mrs. Stella Naa Enyo Atiase, in a letter dated March 11, 2024, addressed to the Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) through the District Director of GES, highlighted the urgent need for replacements in key subject areas.

The affected subjects include:

• Chemistry – 2 teachers needed
• Physics – 2 teachers needed
• Integrated Science – 4 teachers needed
• Core Mathematics – 5 teachers needed
• Government – 5 teachers needed
• Physical Education – 2 teachers needed
• Accounts Clerks – 2 personnel needed

According to the letter, the situation arose because teachers handling these subjects vacated their posts and travelled abroad, creating a critical gap in the school’s academic structure.

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The Headmistress has appealed to the GES for immediate intervention to address the shortfall and prevent further disruptions to teaching and learning.

The Anum Presby SHS’ teacher shortage must be a wake-up call for the GES to carry out an extensive investigation and identify schools that have a shortfall in teachers across all schools. This should be followed by the recruitment of teachers to fill these vacancies without the need to wait for mass recruitment.