The Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers has expressed disappointment with the recent announcement by the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, regarding the employment of 6,100 teachers, describing the plan as insufficient and falling short of the expectations of qualified graduates.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 20, the coalition, representing over 17,000 College of Education graduates who remain unemployed, said the announcement has intensified uncertainty and anxiety among graduates. The group emphasised that all qualified teachers deserve opportunities to serve in Ghana’s educational sector, not just a limited number.
“We gather today to express our disappointment and frustration with the recent announcement by the Minister regarding the recruitment of 6,100 teachers. We strongly believe that this approach falls short of our expectations,” the statement read.
The coalition on Wednesday, November 19, engaged in a peaceful demonstration, demanding the mass recruitment of all 2023 College of Education graduates. They criticised the lack of clarity in the Minister’s announcement, urging him to provide transparent criteria and a clear roadmap for employment.
“Will the recruitment be based on a specific protocol or done through rough tactics, eliminating many deserving graduates?” the statement questioned.The group described the current situation as unprecedented in Ghana’s teacher training history, highlighting that a large number of qualified graduates are left in limbo. They called on the Minister to prioritise fairness and transparency to ensure all deserving graduates are allowed to work.
“Every qualified graduate deserves a chance to serve, and we demand that the Minister prioritises our employment,” the coalition said, rejecting claims by the Minister that they were “striking teachers.”
The coalition further threatened to hit the streets in the next two weeks if a clear employment roadmap on the announcement is not disclosed by the Ministry.