Teachers who accept postings to rural and underserved communities will now qualify for study leave with pay after two years of service instead of the current three.

Education Minister, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, announced the new policy in Parliament on Thursday, describing it as part of government’s efforts to improve conditions of service for teachers and encourage more professionals to work in deprived areas.

He explained that the revised eligibility period forms part of a wider incentive package designed to attract and retain qualified teachers in communities where staffing remains a challenge.

The Minister also disclosed that government intends to introduce a 20 per cent rural allowance for teachers serving in hard-to-reach locations to further boost motivation.

According to Hon. Iddrisu, improving the welfare of teachers is key to enhancing the quality of education and ensuring they receive the recognition and support they deserve.

He further revealed that government is developing the proposed Teacher Dabre Initiative to provide decent accommodation for teachers posted to rural communities. The programme, he noted, is one of the education commitments outlined in President John Dramani Mahama’s 2024 manifesto and is expected to improve teacher retention in underserved areas.

In addition, the Education Minister announced that all future contracts for the construction of school facilities will include residential accommodation for teachers as part of measures to address housing shortages in rural schools.

Hon. Haruna Iddrisu reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening continuous professional development and capacity-building programmes for teachers nationwide.