EduWatch Says Ghana Can Recruit 400 Teachers Every Year If Teacher Trainee Allowance Is Cancelled
The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has sparked national debate after calling for the cancellation of teacher trainee allowances in Ghana.
According to him, the huge amount of money used to pay teacher trainees every year could instead be redirected to recruit and pay about 400 additional teachers annually across the country.
Teacher Trainee Allowance Described as “Wasteful”
Speaking in an interview on TV3 Ghana on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Kofi Asare described the current teacher trainee allowance policy as financially unsustainable and no longer effective for Ghana’s educational development.
He argued that the allowance system consumes a large portion of government resources that could be invested directly into improving teaching and learning in schools.
According to him:
“The allowance is wasteful. Everybody knows it is wasteful. That amount can hire about 400 teachers every year if we cancel the allowance today.”
Kofi Asare further noted that similar concerns also apply to nursing trainee allowances, which reportedly cost the government hundreds of millions of Ghana cedis annually.
Why The Allowance Was Reintroduced
The teacher trainee allowance policy was reintroduced by the government to support students in Colleges of Education financially and also encourage more young people to enter the teaching profession.
Many teacher trainees across Ghana currently receive monthly stipends from the government during their period of study.
However, critics of the policy believe the allowance has become a financial burden on the state and should be replaced with more sustainable support systems such as student loans, scholarships, or improved employment opportunities after graduation.
EduWatch Calls for Major Recruitment Reforms
Beyond the issue of allowances, Kofi Asare also proposed major reforms to Ghana’s teacher recruitment system.
He suggested that Ghana should move away from the current system where newly trained teachers are automatically posted after graduation. Instead, he proposed a demand-driven recruitment model where teachers apply for vacancies based on the needs of specific schools and districts.
According to him, this model is already being used in advanced countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada.
He explained that under such systems:
- Vacancies are advertised publicly
- Qualified teachers apply directly
- Recruitment is based on actual staffing needs
- Schools get teachers with the required expertise
Mixed Reactions Expected
The comments from EduWatch are expected to generate mixed reactions among teacher trainees, education stakeholders, and policymakers.
While some education experts may support the proposal due to the economic pressures facing the country, many teacher trainees are also likely to oppose any attempt to cancel the allowance policy, arguing that the support helps them survive financially while pursuing their education.
The debate over teacher trainee allowances has remained one of Ghana’s most controversial education policy discussions in recent years.
Conclusion
Kofi Asare’s latest remarks have once again reopened discussions about how Ghana can effectively manage its education budget while addressing teacher shortages in schools.
Whether the government will consider scrapping teacher trainee allowances remains uncertain, but the proposal has already intensified conversations about education financing, teacher welfare, and recruitment reforms in Ghana.