EduWatch urges government to end teacher trainee allowance 

The Africa Education Watch is urging the government to abolish the Teacher Trainee Allowance and channel the funds into a loan scheme accessible to all tertiary students.

In a statement issued on November 20, the policy think tank said the GH¢207.8 million earmarked in the 2026 Budget for trainee allowances was a misallocation of scarce public resources. The allocation was announced by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during the budget presentation on November 13.

Eduwatch argued that maintaining the allowance continues to limit support to only one category of tertiary students, despite the financial needs across universities, technical universities, and specialised institutions.

“An amount of GH¢207.8 million has been set aside in the 2026 budget for Teacher Trainee Allowances at Colleges of Education. The allocation is uneconomical,” the group said.

The organisation stressed that a shift in policy would produce a fairer and more efficient system. “Eduwatch reiterates its long-standing position that this allocation should be scrapped, and resources redirected to the Students’ Loan Scheme to benefit all tertiary students, including teacher trainees,” it added.

Eduwatch maintains that the allowance system no longer aligns with current fiscal realities and continues to place pressure on the education budget. Officials of the organisation insist that strengthening the Students’ Loan Scheme would allow more students to access support based on need rather than programme of study.

The group further noted that previous assessments had shown persistent delays in the release of allowance funds, causing uncertainty for trainees and contributing to administrative inefficiencies in Colleges of Education. According to Eduwatch, a well-funded loan scheme would eliminate these recurring challenges and ensure timely, reliable financial support for students.

“The equitable approach is to build a robust loan scheme that supports students across all tertiary institutions,” the statement said. It added that the continuation of the allowance policy undermines efforts to ensure fairness in public spending within the education sector.

The think tank emphasised the need for reforms that prioritise sustainability, inclusiveness, and value for money. It said redirecting the GH¢207.8 million would help guarantee wider access to financial assistance and encourage a more efficient distribution of educational resources.

Following the presentation of the 2025 budget in March by the Finance Minister, Dr, Ato Forson, Mr. Asare voiced strong opposition to the allocation to teacher-trainee allowances.

He maintained that it was unsustainable and that the government will be better off if it “departed” from such spending.

“I don’t think that allocating over GHS200 million for teacher trainee allowance is a game changer. It is a wasteful expenditure, and we encourage the government to depart from that narrative,” Mr. Asare said at the time.