Gov’t to recruit 10,000 more teachers in 2027 – Haruna Iddrisu

The government will recruit an additional 10,000 teachers in 2027 to address staffing gaps in basic and secondary schools, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced.

Mr Iddrisu said provision would be made for the recruitment in the 2027 national budget as part of efforts to strengthen teaching and learning across the country.

Speaking on TV3’s Sunrise programme on Friday, September 11, 2026, the Minister also outlined government’s plans to improve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), school infrastructure and the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

On TVET, Mr Iddrisu said the government was committed to making vocational and technical education more practical to equip young people with skills that could improve their employment prospects.

“TVET remains the surest way to reduce unemployment and underemployment. But you go to a TVET school and it is 90 per cent theory and 10 per cent practical. That is unacceptable,” he said.

He said government would therefore focus on strengthening practical training in TVET institutions to better prepare students for the job market.

On infrastructure, Mr Iddrisu said the 2027 GETFund formula would include a policy directive to allocate GH¢100 million towards the expansion of facilities in 10 Category “A” schools.

He added that the World Bank had approved $300 million to support the transformation of secondary education, with $257 million earmarked for infrastructure expansion in Category “B” and “C” schools.

“We intend to build 10 new model Category ‘A’ schools,” Mr Iddrisu said, adding that government would also convert 20 Category “B” schools to Category “A” status.

Addressing concerns over the ongoing school placement difficulties, the Minister said more than 850,000 vacancies had been declared nationwide, insisting that every qualified student was eligible for admission into a secondary school.

He described the challenge as largely a matter of choice rather than a shortage of places, arguing that the high demand for Category “A” schools was creating pressure on the placement system.

Mr Iddrisu said the government inherited the CSSPS and had introduced improvements to the system, although challenges remained in placing students into their preferred schools.

He made the comments in response to former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who has reportedly suggested that the current administration seek his advice on resolving the placement difficulties.

Mr Iddrisu criticised his predecessor’s record in office, accusing him of overseeing a system that failed to give sufficient attention to basic education.

“I have heard comments from Minister Adutwum, who seem to have better solutions outside government than when he was at the seat as Minister for Education,” he said.

“If he did it better, then why are we here? We would not have been struggling for placement,” he added.

Citing figures from the 2026 placement exercise, Mr Iddrisu said about 328,000 students selected Category “A” schools, while only 76,000 vacancies were available.

“Show me any minister, including Dr Adutwum, who can fix that problem by placing 313,000 in 76,000 vacancies. You have a miracle to do that,” he said.

“So, when he says come to me for advice, what advice?” Mr Iddrisu asked.

The Education Minister said the government’s planned teacher recruitment, infrastructure expansion and reforms in TVET and school placement were part of broader measures to improve the quality and accessibility of education in Ghana.