Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has raised concerns over what he describes as a serious teacher shortage in Ghana, claiming that about 30,000 classrooms currently do not have teachers.
According to him, the situation could potentially leave nearly one million students without adequate teaching and learning support if urgent measures are not taken.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana on Tuesday, September 8, Dr Adutwum said the scale of the shortage should be a major concern for policymakers because it could have a direct impact on the quality of education.
“We have 30,000 classrooms currently that don’t have teachers,” he said.
He explained that when the number of affected classrooms is translated into student numbers, the potential consequences become even more worrying.
“You’re talking about close to a million students who could potentially be sitting in classrooms without a teacher,” he added.
Only 7,000 of 50,000 Requested Teachers Approved
Dr Adutwum said the current Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, had recognised the challenge and requested financial clearance to recruit 50,000 teachers, but only 7,000 were reportedly approved.
“The Minister of Education asked for 50,000 teacher clearance. They gave him 7,000,” he stated.
The former minister warned that the gap requires urgent political attention, arguing that its effects could eventually be reflected in students’ academic performance.
“If the President doesn’t act quickly, we are going to be in trouble,” he cautioned.
Teacher Shortage and WASSCE Performance
Dr Adutwum’s comments come amid concerns over Ghanaian students’ performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), particularly in core subjects such as Mathematics.
He argued that the country cannot effectively address poor examination outcomes without first tackling the conditions under which students learn.
According to him, students’ academic weaknesses should be identified much earlier, particularly when they enter senior high school, so teachers can intervene before those challenges become more difficult to address at the WASSCE level.
Education as an Investment in Ghana’s Future
The former minister also linked the teacher shortage to Ghana’s broader economic prospects.
He argued that education should not be viewed merely as a social service but as an investment in the country’s human capital and future economic development.
For him, ensuring that every student has access to a teacher is one of the fundamental requirements for developing the skills Ghana needs to compete in an increasingly changing global economy.
Dr Adutwum further called for greater emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), artificial intelligence and information technology, saying young people must be equipped with practical skills that can translate into productive employment.
“We cannot memorize our way out of poverty,” he said.
He believes Ghana’s education system must therefore move beyond preparing students primarily for examinations and place greater emphasis on developing the knowledge, creativity and practical skills needed to drive sustainable economic transformation.
