Omanghana
Former Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has raised concerns about Ghana’s growing teacher shortage, revealing that approximately 30,000 classrooms across the country currently have no teachers.
According to him, the shortage could leave about one million pupils without adequate instruction and academic support, threatening educational outcomes and the country’s long-term development.
Dr Adutwum said the Ministry of Education had requested financial clearance to recruit 50,000 teachers to address the deficit. However, the Ministry of Finance reportedly approved the recruitment of only 7,000.
He warned that the number approved would be insufficient to fill existing vacancies, particularly in schools and communities already struggling to attract trained teachers.
The former minister stressed that having classroom buildings without teachers does not guarantee meaningful education. He said students cannot acquire the necessary knowledge and skills when there are no qualified professionals to guide them.
Dr Adutwum linked the shortage to declining academic performance, particularly in essential subjects such as Core Mathematics in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
He argued that policymakers must address the conditions under which teaching and learning take place instead of expecting improved examination results without providing the required human resources.
The Bosomtwe MP said the absence of teachers weakens the educational foundation of students long before they sit their final examinations. He cautioned that interventions introduced at the examination stage would have limited impact if students had already spent years without adequate instruction.
He also warned against treating education merely as a social service, stressing that an effective school system is central to national economic growth, innovation and poverty reduction.
“We cannot memories our way out of poverty,” Dr Adutwum stated, as he called for an education system that equips students with practical abilities rather than relying heavily on the recall of information.
He emphasized the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, as well as practical digital skills, in preparing young people for the changing global economy.
According to him, Ghana risks falling behind other countries in developing human capital if schools continue to operate without enough trained and qualified teachers.
The shortage could also deepen educational inequality, with rural and deprived communities likely to experience the most severe impact. Schools in such areas often struggle to retain teachers because of limited accommodation, transportation difficulties and inadequate infrastructure.
Dr Adutwum called for urgent intervention from the presidency to expand teacher recruitment and ensure that trained professionals are posted to schools where their services are most needed.
He maintained that his warning was based on his professional experience as an educator and concern for the future of Ghana’s children rather than partisan political considerations.
The former education minister urged the government to treat the recruitment of teachers as an urgent national investment, warning that delays could worsen learning gaps and affect the country’s economic competitiveness.
He said placing qualified teachers in all classrooms would be crucial to improving examination performance, strengthening STEM education and preparing students to participate meaningfully in Ghana’s digital and industrial development.
Source: Omanghana
