MoE to roll out teachers’ housing initiative for public basic schools
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Education (MoE) to implement a teachers’ housing initiative, the Minister for Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed.
He made the disclosure when he met teachers and management of the ZAMSTEC school as part of his monitoring visit to some West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Centres in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
Speaking to teachers and management of the Zamse Senior High Technical (ZAMSTEC) School, he said the initiative is part of the government’s effort to reduce housing and infrastructural deficit affecting teaching and learning.
Mr. Iddrisu also noted that the Ministry has received policy approval to initiate teacher promotions. He assured them that the Public Services Commission (PSC) will work on the process to ensure teachers receive their due.
The Education Minister also reiterated that the 1billion Cedis from the GETFUND will be invested in infrastructural development to end the double track system, which has impacted negatively on education across the country.
President Mahama’s directive for the Education Ministry to implement the teacher housing initiative comes after he announced that all new basic schools that will be constructed under his administration will come with accommodation facilities for teachers.
He said every new basic school built under his administration will include teacher accommodation as a standard feature to address teacher absenteeism in rural and underserved communities.
His Excellency explained that the directive, already communicated by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, forms part of a broader policy to improve teacher welfare, especially in rural communities where accommodation remains a major challenge.
He made the statement on Wednesday, June 11, when the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House to discuss issues affecting the teaching profession.
“So instead of just building a six-classroom block, there must be teachers’ quarters attached to the classroom block so that the teachers teaching there can have accommodation,” Mr. Mahama said.
He further revealed plans to partner with the Teachers Fund to provide permanent housing for teachers through a counter-funding arrangement that would allow teachers to own homes by retirement.
“We believe that they should be able to retire in dignity, and so it’s something that the Minister of Education will take up with you, so that we design it,” he said.
President Mahama indicated that, subject to consultations and planning, his administration hopes to roll out the housing initiative in 2026.
