By Kareen Tei 57am,Karen Tei
Copyright myjoyonline
Teachers from the 2022 batch of the College of Education and university graduates are picketing at the Jubilee House, demanding payment of 13- and 9-month salary arrears, respectively.
The protest began early Tuesday, September 30, at Obra Spot near Nkrumah Circle, with the teachers marching to the Ministry of Education and later the Ministry of Finance before heading to the presidency to press their demands.
This action follows the expiration of the group’s initial deadline of September 23, which passed without any response from the Ministry of Education.
Lead convener Simon Kofi Nartey said the demonstration had become necessary after all efforts to resolve their concerns were ignored.
“We cannot continue working without salaries. This protest is our last option, and we are heading to the Jubilee House to demand the President’s intervention,” he stated.
Among the demonstrators was Rose, a visually impaired teacher, who revealed she had gone nine months without pay.
“Since our appointment in December 2024, we have not received any pay. We’ve borrowed to survive, and even our rent is due. We are suffering beyond words,” she lamented.
The teachers stressed that their protest is not only about their survival but also about safeguarding the quality of education, which suffers when newly recruited teachers cannot afford basic needs such as transportation and accommodation.
The demonstration highlights a recurring challenge in Ghana’s education sector, where newly recruited public sector workers often face long delays in receiving their first salaries.
A 2024 report by the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) revealed that about 70% of newly posted teachers in Ghana wait more than four months before being paid.
Given Ghana’s high teacher-to-student ratio, the contribution of these new educators is critical. Yet their financial struggles not only disrupt their lives but also risk undermining classroom teaching and learning.
By taking to the streets, the teachers are making a direct appeal to the government and the public to ensure that educators, who play a central role in national development, are paid promptly and fairly.
