A fresh intake of 7,000 educators will be recruited by the state starting from 1 July, as part of an ongoing initiative to tackle staff shortages in classrooms across the nation, according to the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu.
Addressing Parliament, the Minister explained that while Ghana requires a minimum of 50,000 educators across the country, hiring capacity remains restricted by strict budgetary boundaries and the pressure that public sector salaries place on treasury expenditure.
He revealed that discussions are currently underway with the Finance Minister to boost these recruitment figures, though he emphasised that any increases must remain financially viable.
This matter could potentially be reassessed by the Finance Minister during the upcoming mid-year fiscal review.
The Minister noted that his focus had been drawn to the necessity for greater fairness and representation within the hiring process during the recent May Day events.
He recalled an individual who demonstrated whilst holding a sign that stated, “blind teachers are also teachers”, which served as a poignant reminder to the government to ensure educators with disabilities are fully supported.
Furthermore, he pointed to an appeal made by the Ga Mantse regarding a severe deficit of Ga language instructors within the Greater Accra Region, observing that identical issues are being mirrored in other territories.
For instance, in the Savannah Region, clear demands have been made for specialised instructors fluent in local dialects.
“It is our firm belief that when children learn with a local language as first language of instruction in addition to English, learning outcomes improve,” Mr Iddrisu remarked.
He concluded by highlighting data from Oxford research that reinforces this approach, maintaining that although English continues to serve as the official language of Ghana, far greater effort must be directed towards incorporating indigenous languages into daily schooling.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana