The President of the Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG), Soale Razak, has voiced strong concerns regarding the potential government plans to scrap the teacher trainee allowance.
Speaking on 3FM Sunrise on February 5, 2025, Razak revealed a widespread disappointment among trainees and highlighted the inadequacies of the current infrastructure in the Colleges of Education.
“We will be disappointed should the government go ahead and scrap the trainee’s allowances,” Razak stated. “We don’t have the needed infrastructure in the colleges to be asked to feed ourselves.”
He explained that the allowance plays a crucial role in students’ ability to afford essential reading materials as well as the feeding.
SEE ALSO: “We want our allowance maintained, and the money increased from GH₵400 a month to GH₵ 1,000” – President of Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana
Razak emphasized that the association has repeatedly advocated for improved facilities, but assurances from the government have not materialized.
“The minister is saying students should feed themselves but the facilities at the colleges are not favorable,” he lamented, questioning the practicality of self-catering for students in the current environment.
Furthermore, Razak dismissed claims that the allowance delays the immediate employment of teachers, attributing the delay instead to the mandatory national service year..
He also defended the sustainability of the allowance, drawing attention to allowances received by other sectors and expressing hope that TTAG can justify the need for the allowance at the upcoming educational forum, opining that, “In the event that it’s been cancelled, it is something that won’t help us.”
SEE ALSO: ‘Enhanced Student Loan Scheme’ to Replace Trainee Allowance -Check Here
In his submission, the President of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education, Ghana (PRINCOF), Prof. Samuel Awinkene Atintono, acknowledged that some students rely on the allowance for survival.
However, he also shared his experience of difficulties Principals face trying to provide GH₵8.50 for 3 square meal a day for these adult students.
Prof. Atintono revealed that during a meeting with the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister focused more on trainees having access to the student loan scheme and not scrapping the trainee allowance.
“For now, the government will continue to pay, however, whichever ways it goes, we will see,” Prof. Atintono noted.
SEE ALSO: Colleges of Education 2024/2025 Academic Calendar
Historically, the teacher trainee allowance has seen numerous changes since its introduction in 1960 by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
While it was abolished in 1971 by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia and later reinstated by Jerry John Rawlings, it was once again canceled in 2013 by John Dramani Mahama due to budgetary constraints.
However, the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration reintroduced the allowance in 2017.
As the Mahama led administration considers its options, the future of the teacher trainee allowance hangs in the balance, leaving trainees anxiously awaiting further developments.