Haruna Iddrisu Outlines New Measures to Improve Teacher Retention in Rural Areas The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has outlined a series of policy measures aim

Haruna Iddrisu Outlines New Measures to Improve Teacher Retention in Rural Areas The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has outlined a series of policy measures aimed at improving teacher welfare, motivation, and retention, particularly in rural and underserved communities across Ghana. Speaking in Parliament, the Minister said the initiatives form part of the government's broader strategy to attract and retain qualified teachers in areas that have long struggled with staffing shortages. Among the key interventions is the reduction in the service period required for teachers in deprived areas to qualify for paid study leave. Under the revised policy, teachers serving in such communities will now be eligible for study leave with pay after completing two years of service instead of the previous three years. Hon. Iddrisu also disclosed that the government is working to introduce a 20 percent rural posting allowance for teachers serving in deprived communities. He explained t

By Administrator

Published on 02/07/2026 21:16

News

Haruna Iddrisu Outlines New Measures to Improve Teacher Retention in Rural Areas

The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has outlined a series of policy measures aimed at improving teacher welfare, motivation, and retention, particularly in rural and underserved communities across Ghana.

Speaking in Parliament, the Minister said the initiatives form part of the government's broader strategy to attract and retain qualified teachers in areas that have long struggled with staffing shortages.

Among the key interventions is the reduction in the service period required for teachers in deprived areas to qualify for paid study leave. Under the revised policy, teachers serving in such communities will now be eligible for study leave with pay after completing two years of service instead of the previous three years.

Hon. Iddrisu also disclosed that the government is working to introduce a 20 percent rural posting allowance for teachers serving in deprived communities. He explained that the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Ministry of Finance are collaborating to implement the incentive as part of efforts to motivate teachers and encourage them to accept postings to hard-to-reach areas.

The Minister further noted that continuous professional development and capacity-building programmes are being strengthened nationwide to enhance teachers' skills, improve the quality of teaching, and uphold the dignity of the profession.

Addressing accommodation challenges, Hon. Iddrisu said the government is advancing the Teacher Habra Initiative, a housing programme designed to provide dedicated accommodation for teachers in rural and underserved communities.

He added that all future contracts for the construction of new school blocks will include on-site accommodation for teachers to improve their living conditions and support effective deployment and long-term retention.

According to Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, the combined interventions are expected to boost teacher morale, reduce attrition, and improve the delivery of quality education across the country, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Report by PKB