Unemployed Trained Teachers Decry 6,100 Recruitment Plan, Demand Full Placement.

The Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers (CUTT) has expressed disappointment with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu’s announcement to recruit 6,100 teachers, describing the plan as insufficient and falling short of the expectations of thousands of qualified graduates still waiting for placement.

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 heightened anxiety and uncertainty among trained teachers who have completed all professional requirements but have yet to be posted. “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 group emphasised that all qualified graduates deserve opportunities to serve in Ghana’s educational sector, not only a limited number.

CUTT engaged in a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday, November 19, demanding the mass recruitment of all 2023 College of Education graduates. The coalition criticised the lack of clarity on how the 6,100 positions will be filled and urged the Ministry to provide transparent criteria and a clear employment roadmap. “Will the recruitment be based on a specific protocol or done through rough tactics, eliminating many deserving graduates?” the statement questioned, noting that the situation is unprecedented in Ghana’s teacher training history and leaves a large number of qualified graduates in limbo.

The coalition rejected claims by the Minister that its members were “striking teachers” and called on the Ministry to prioritise fairness and transparency to ensure all deserving graduates are employed. They further warned that unless a clear roadmap is released within the next two weeks, they will stage further demonstrations across the country.

Minister Iddrisu, speaking on Wednesday, November 19, defended the plan, stating that Cabinet had approved the 6,100 teaching positions and that the recruitment cohort would be drawn from 2023 College of Education graduates. He urged teachers to report for verification, identification, and reinstatement so they can be posted and receive their salaries.

The recruitment plan comes amid long-standing challenges in Ghana’s education sector, including teacher shortages in rural and underserved areas, delays in salary payments, and administrative bottlenecks that have hindered the posting and absorption of trained teachers. The backlog of unemployed graduates has persisted despite repeated government initiatives to fill teaching positions, leaving thousands of qualified teachers awaiting deployment across the country.

CUTT announced that, unless a full and transparent roadmap is released within the next two weeks, they will intensify their action, including possible further demonstrations on the streets of Accra and other locations.