The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed that Ghana’s education system is facing a substantial shortage of teaching personnel, with an estimated deficit ranging between 50,000 and 90,000 teachers nationwide.

Addressing Parliament on Thursday, June 18, the Minister acknowledged the growing demand for educators across the country but noted that fiscal challenges continue to limit the government’s ability to recruit enough teachers to fill existing vacancies.

The education minister explained that while efforts are being made to strengthen staffing levels, budgetary pressures have constrained the pace of recruitment despite the urgent need for additional personnel in schools.

He further indicated that ongoing reforms within the education sector have broadened the demand for qualified teachers, as newly established and expanding institutions require increased human resources.

According to the Minister, agencies such as the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) now compete for available teaching staff, placing additional pressure on government resources and workforce planning.

He stressed that addressing the teacher gap remains a priority, but recruitment decisions must be balanced against the country’s financial capacity.