Navrongo: Government is considering a major policy shift to decentralise the recruitment, posting, and sanctioning of teachers from the central government to the district assemblies, as announced by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu. This move is aimed at strengthening decentralisation and enhancing efficiency in addressing local education needs.
According to Ghana Web, President John Dramani Mahama has directed a review of the current centralised teacher recruitment system. Iddrisu explained that the proposed policy change would make the recruitment of teachers a primary responsibility of the district assemblies, aligning with the broader decentralisation framework currently under review. The objective is to empower local authorities to respond more swiftly to staffing needs in schools, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
The minister shared this information during his address at the 14th Congregation and 96th Anniversary of St John Bosco's College of Education in Navrongo. Quoting the president, he highlighted the need for municipal assemblies, such as Kassena-Nankana, to have the autonomy to recruit and sanction teachers without waiting for the Ghana Education Service.
Iddrisu further mentioned that discussions on the decentralisation of teacher recruitment were ongoing, alongside proposals to adjust the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to support these new responsibilities. President Mahama is considering a gradual increase in the DACF from the current five per cent to 7.5 per cent, with the additional two per cent dedicated to decentralised education and health services.
He emphasised that any additional resources allocated to the sector would be tied to decentralised operations to ensure improved efficiency, transparency, and accountability at the local level. Formal announcements on the proposed policy changes will be made after Cabinet and policy approvals, but the government remains committed to reforming the education sector to improve service delivery.
Iddrisu also disclosed that a review of the curriculum from kindergarten to the junior high school level is underway, with a strong emphasis on digital literacy, digital education, and the development of smart classrooms. He expressed the expectation that digital skills and education would define the future of investment in the education sector.
During the event, a total of 581 graduands from the 2023/2024 academic year were awarded various degrees, including Bachelor of Education in multiple specialisations for Junior High School and Upper Primary levels.