Dear Edu. Minister Hon Haruna Iddrisu,
It has been almost a year since you assumed office, yet the silence from the Ministry on many critical education issues is worrying. This is not said out of disrespect, but out of concern for a sector that shapes the future of Ghana.
As an experienced politician, you are fully aware of what has happened in our education system from 2012 to date, especially in teacher education, recruitment, and deployment. The previous NDC government expanded access to Colleges of Education by removing the capped admission system. The goal was clear: train more teachers, professionalise teaching, and reduce the severe shortage of teachers in our classrooms.
Years later, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Many classrooms, particularly in rural Ghana, still do not have teachers. Thousands of trained teachers remain at home, unposted, while district directors openly declare vacancies. In some schools, teachers are forced to teach subjects they were never trained for, simply because there is no one else. This affects learning outcomes and demoralises teachers who want to do quality work but are constrained by poor deployment decisions.
This situation calls for honest evaluation, clear communication, and decisive action from the Ministry.
Even more troubling is the issue of unpaid salaries and arrears. In 2026, teachers are still chasing months of unpaid wages. In the 21st century, why should workers beg for salaries they have already earned? Continuous assurances without timelines only deepen frustration and erode trust in government.
Recently, you questioned the quality of Senior High School graduates, pointing out that some university entrants struggle to spell simple words or even write their names correctly. While the concern is valid, the diagnosis is misplaced.
Senior High School is not where children learn how to read, write, or spell. These foundational skills are taught from kindergarten through primary school and reinforced at the junior high level. When basic education is weak, no amount of pressure at SHS or university can fix the damage. Poor outcomes at the top are a direct reflection of neglect at the base.
For years, teachers and education experts have called for serious investment in basic education: better infrastructure, learning materials, supervision, and teacher support. Unfortunately, successive governments have focused more on headlines than foundations. If the foundation is weak, the building will crack, no matter how beautiful it looks from afar.
If you truly want to leave a lasting legacy at the Ministry of Education, basic education must be your starting point.
Teacher welfare is another area demanding attention. Between 2017 and 2019, an insurance policy was introduced for teachers, covering mainly accidents and death while in active service. While well intentioned, the policy was poorly thought through and limited in scope. If teacher welfare truly matters to the current government, this policy needs a serious review to address real risks teachers face, including health, mental stress, and financial insecurity.
Accountability must also be clear and firm. The recent controversy surrounding the introduction of LGBTQ-related materials into textbooks has raised serious questions. If the government claims it was unaware, then those responsible must be identified and sanctioned.
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment operates under the Ministry of Education. Curriculum design, approval, and textbook printing do not happen by accident. If such materials made it into textbooks, someone failed in their duty. Ghanaians deserve more than vague explanations. Your response so far has not inspired confidence.
Hon. Minister, this letter is not an attack. It is a call for leadership, clarity, and action. Teachers are tired. Parents are worried. Students are paying the price.
Education cannot be managed with silence, delays, or shifting blame. It requires presence, honesty, and courage. Ghana is watching, and history will remember what was done or left undone.
Respectfully,
A concerned teacher
Bismark Dotse Dzisenu.