Ghana’s education sector continues to face a critical challenge, with more than 42,000 teachers reportedly working without professional qualifications.
The deficit is particularly concentrated in rural basic schools and Senior High Schools (SHSs), with the Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Eastern Regions recording the highest numbers of unqualified teaching staff.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show, the Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Education Hub, Mr. David Akpaloo, expressed deep concern about what he described as the growing politicization of Ghana’s education sector.
According to him, political interference has significantly worsened the challenges facing the country’s public education system.
Mr. Akpaloo stated that the education sector continues to suffer despite the availability of thousands of qualified teachers who remain unemployed. He noted that ongoing demonstrations by trained graduate teachers seeking employment clearly indicate that Ghana does not lack qualified educators, but rather suffers from a flawed recruitment system influenced by political connections and favoritism.
He further lamented the situation in which trained and certified teachers struggle to secure postings while unqualified individuals gain access to teaching opportunities through what he described as “protocol” arrangements.
“There is no shortage of teachers in Ghana,” Mr. Akpaloo stated.
“The real problem is that politics has infiltrated the education sector. Qualified graduates are at home protesting for jobs while unqualified people are being pushed into the system through connections,” he added.
Mr. Akpaloo also criticized political leaders for what he described as their lack of commitment to improving public education. According to him, many policymakers appear detached from the realities facing ordinary Ghanaians who rely heavily on the public school system.
He warned that the continued neglect of public education could have serious long-term consequences for national development if urgent reforms are not implemented.
Mr. Akpaloo therefore called for merit-based recruitment processes and improved conditions within the education sector to ensure quality teaching and learning outcomes across the country.
His comments come amid growing concerns from education stakeholders and unions representing unemployed teachers over delays in recruitment and placement of trained teachers nationwide.
Abigail William Mensah Dadzie