The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the teacher trainee allowance will continue "for the time being," providing financial support to students in Colleges of Education.¹ However, there are plans to eventually transition these students to an enhanced student loan scheme. This move aims to promote autonomy and self-sufficiency among students, enabling them to take care of themselves without relying solely on allowances.
The Minister emphasized that the continuation of student allowances is crucial, as it directly impacts the well-being and future prospects of students. He also acknowledged the significant challenges faced by the colleges, including infrastructure deficits and lack of academic facilities.
The timeline for transitioning to the loan scheme will be guided by the recommendations from the upcoming national education dialogue proposed by President John Dramani Mahama. This dialogue will bring together stakeholders to discuss various challenges facing the country's education sector.
It's worth noting that there have been concerns and controversies surrounding the teacher trainee allowance in the past. Some have argued that the allowance was cancelled and replaced with a loan scheme, which has been criticized for being unfair and extortionate.² However, the Education Minister's recent announcement suggests that the allowance will continue, at least for now.
