CHASS demands urgent action on teacher shortages, infrastructure gaps

The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) is sounding the alarm on the dire need for qualified teachers and adequate infrastructure in Ghana’s education sector.

According to them, the current shortages are crippling the system and hindering the delivery of quality education.

CHASS emphasizes that the Free Senior High School policy has increased enrollment but also exposed the weaknesses in the education system, particularly in teacher availability and infrastructure. To address this, CHASS urges the government to prioritize teacher recruitment, training, and retention, as well as invest in infrastructure development.

“The education sector is facing a vocational crisis, accentuated by non-competitive salaries,” notes UNESCO, highlighting that 6 out of 10 countries pay primary school teachers less than other professionals with similar qualifications. This disparity underscores the need for attractive working conditions and compensation to retain top teaching talent.

Effective strategies to address teacher shortages include providing mentoring, collaboration, and extra resources to new teachers, which can cut first-year turnover by more than half. Additionally, teacher residency programs have shown promising results, with 80-90% of graduates staying in the same district for more than three years.

CHASS is demanding immediate action, including the recruitment of 30,000 teachers to fill existing vacancies, allocation of GH¢500 million for infrastructure development, enhanced teacher training programs focusing on digital literacy, and improved internet connectivity in all schools.

“The government must treat education as a national emergency,” emphasized Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Owusu-Mensah, CHASS President. “We cannot afford to fail our children.”

“The teacher shortage is a ticking time bomb that needs urgent attention,” added Angela Aku Akorsa, a participant. “We need collective action to address this crisis.”