Gov’t Approves Payment for 3,200 Unpaid Teachers — Education Minister Confirms payment date

The Ministry of Education has announced that over 3,200 teachers who have been working for nearly ten months without salaries will soon be paid following Cabinet approval. The long-awaited decision comes as a major relief to affected teachers, many of whom have endured severe financial hardship while diligently serving in classrooms across the country.

Speaking at the launch of the ADEA Triennale on Education Conference in Accra, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu revealed that Cabinet had approved the payment of salary arrears owed to newly posted teachers, including both graduates from Colleges of Education and universities. He disclosed that the approval also covers the integration of these teachers into the government payroll, ensuring they receive their due remuneration and benefits.

“A few weeks ago, myself and the chief director received a petition from some teachers who were unhappy with the government over their unpaid salaries for several months. I am happy to announce that the cabinet has approved the 3,200 teachers to be absorbed,” Mr. Iddrisu stated.

He further assured that the teachers would not only be paid their outstanding salaries but would also receive back pay to cover the months they have worked without compensation. The Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Finance had been granted permission by Cabinet to release approximately ₵1.1 billion to settle the salary arrears of both teachers and health workers facing similar challenges.

“We will begin the process in due course. The Cabinet gave the Minister of Finance approval to spend about 1.1 billion Ghana Cedis to absorb a category of health workers and teachers,” he explained.

The announcement follows weeks of agitation by the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers, a group made up of graduates from various teacher training institutions and universities who have been teaching in public schools without pay for up to thirteen months. The group presented a petition to the Ministries of Education and Finance on September 30, demanding immediate action to resolve their long-standing salary grievances.

In response to the petition, the Minister promised that a joint memorandum had been submitted to Cabinet, seeking financial clearance and approval to process their payments. The latest confirmation from the Education Minister signals a significant step toward resolving one of the key welfare issues confronting newly recruited educators in Ghana.

Beyond the issue of unpaid salaries, Mr. Iddrisu also outlined ambitious plans to promote equity and access within the country’s secondary education system. He disclosed that the Ministry of Education intends to embark on a major school upgrading initiative that will see several Category B schools elevated to Category A status, and a number of Category C schools upgraded to Category B by 2026.

This initiative, he said, forms part of a broader government strategy to reduce the placement pressure that often arises during the school admissions process, where a majority of students seek admission to the limited number of Category A schools.

“The ministry acknowledges that there is a significant challenge when there are 76,000 vacancies but over 393,000 qualified applicants desiring to fill them. The challenge is described as a near impossibility,” the Minister noted.

He added that the plan would involve infrastructure expansion — including new classroom blocks, dormitories, and modern learning materials — to improve the learning environment in targeted schools. However, he stressed that the success of this initiative would depend largely on adequate budgetary support and resource allocation from government.

“To address equity and capacity, I have discussed with the President a plan for 2026 to convert at least 10 Category C schools to Category B, and 10 Category B schools to Category A. This conversion will be backed by infrastructure development and quality improvement through better teaching and learning materials,” he said.

The Ministry’s dual focus on addressing teacher welfare and expanding access to quality education highlights its commitment to strengthening the country’s educational system. For many affected teachers, the promise of payment offers not only financial relief but also renewed faith in the government’s commitment to educators’ well-being.

As the Ministry of Education begins the payment process, stakeholders across the education sector are hopeful that timely action will restore morale among teachers and enhance the overall delivery of education in Ghana.