The Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana has opposed government’s plan to recruit 7,000 teachers for rural and hard-to-reach areas, describing the figure as grossly inadequate.
The recruitment initiative is aimed at improving access to quality education in underserved communities, but TTAG insists it falls short of addressing the scale of unemployed trained teachers.
Speaking on Starr News, TTAG President Divine Nanija argued that the number does not reflect the large pool of qualified teacher trainees awaiting posting.
“The 7,000 that the Honorable Minister mentioned this afternoon is, let’s say, not even half of a single year’s batch. For the 2023 batch alone, there are about 17,000 qualified teacher trainees,” he stated.
He warned that the limited recruitment could leave thousands without jobs. “If the Minister is recruiting 7,000, that means 7,000 out of 17,000, which clearly indicates that a very large number will be left behind. The 7,000 is simply not enough,” he added.
Nanija further called for clarity on future recruitment plans, stressing that many trainees are uncertain about their prospects.
“This shortfall will cost us a lot, especially since there is currently no information on what will happen to those who are not part of this 7,000—whether there will be a next round of recruitment or when it might take place,” he said.
TTAG is therefore urging government to review the figure and provide a clear roadmap for absorbing the remaining trained teachers.
