Ghana’s education sector is grappling with a significant staffing deficit, with the country requiring between 50,000 and 90,000 additional teachers to adequately meet the needs of schools nationwide, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has revealed.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, June 18, the minister said the scale of the shortage highlights growing pressure on the education system, especially as reforms expand both general education and technical and vocational training structures.
According to him, although the demand for teachers continues to rise, government budgetary constraints mean only about 7,000 new recruits have been approved for hiring.
“My need for teachers is between 50,000 and 90,000, but I had clearance for 7,000, and that is what I am making do with,” he stated.
Mr. Iddrisu explained that the expansion of institutions under the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) has further increased staffing demands, making recruitment even more challenging.
He noted that the gap between actual staffing needs and available funding remains a major obstacle to delivering quality education across the country.
The minister’s comments have sparked renewed concern over teacher availability, classroom overcrowding, and the long-term sustainability of education reforms.
