Gov’t to introduce 20% rural allowance for teachers in deprived communities
The government has announced plans to introduce a 20 per cent rural posting allowance for teachers working in rural and underserved communities as part of efforts to improve teacher welfare and address staffing shortages in hard-to-reach areas.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, July 2, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said the proposed allowance is aimed at attracting, motivating and retaining teachers in deprived communities while compensating them for the challenges associated with serving in such locations.
He stressed that improving the welfare of teachers remains a key government priority, noting that better incentives are essential for boosting morale, safeguarding the dignity of the profession and enhancing educational outcomes.
“Government is committed to rolling out a 20 per cent rural posting allowance for teachers serving in rural and deprived areas, and the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education are working together to implement the policy,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu also announced that the qualifying period for study leave with pay for teachers serving in rural and deprived areas has been reduced from three years to two years.
Under the new arrangement, teachers who voluntarily accept postings to deprived communities will become eligible to apply for study leave with pay after completing two years of service.
“Previously, teachers in deprived areas had to serve for three years before qualifying for study leave with pay. We have now reduced that requirement to two years, so anyone who accepts a posting to a rural deprived area can apply after two years of service,” he explained.
The Education Minister further disclosed that the government is developing measures to tackle accommodation challenges faced by teachers in rural communities through the implementation of President John Dramani Mahama’s proposed Teacher Dabre Initiative.
According to him, the initiative, outlined in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, is intended to provide decent accommodation for teachers in rural areas to improve deployment and retention.
“We are engaging stakeholders on the rollout of the Teacher Dabre Initiative, which will provide housing for teachers in rural communities and help address accommodation challenges that affect teacher deployment and retention,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu added that the government has directed that all newly awarded school infrastructure contracts must include residential accommodation for teachers.
He further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in the continuous professional development and capacity building of teachers across the country.
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