The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has disclosed that it is currently in discussions with the Minister of Education to obtain financial clearance for the recruitment of 2,500 teaching staff in order to alleviate the current academic workload caused by the ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).
In a letter dated August 16, 2024, GTEC’s Acting Director General, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, informed the Principals of the colleges of education that the commission will communicate the details of the expedited staff recruitment process as soon as the financial clearance is granted.
“the Commission is in serious talks with the Honourable Minister of Education for financial clearance to be granted to GTEC to recruit some two thousand five hundred (2500) teaching staff to augment the current load for academic work to commence as quickly as possible while we work with CETAG to resolve their concerns”
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GTEC also clarified that there are no immediate plans to shut down the colleges of education in response to the strike and that all 46 institutions should remain open until further notice.
“The Commission, as of today, 16th August 2024, has not reached such a conclusion, neither has it been directed by the Honourable Minister of Education to do same. As a result, all of the 46 Colleges of education should stay open until further notice”
According to GTEC, 20 institutions have already been migrated, with the aim of completing the migration process for all 46 institutions by the end of the month.
Furthermore, GTEC confirmed that the research allowance top-ups have been paid to 44 colleges of education, with the exceptions of McCoy and Dambai, who are experiencing technical issues that need to be resolved.
GTEC also stated that the all-year-round payment, which has been a contentious issue, has been initiated on the Ghana Integrate Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to expedite the release of payment.
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GTEC also revealed that, Instructions regarding the payment of salaries for August will be communicated to the colleges of education once the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, provides the necessary directive.
“Regarding payment of salaries for August, the Commission will communicate directives on the subject once same has been received from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum”
