The Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers has disputed a claim made by the Minister of Education during a GTV interview that part of the 2023 batch of trained teachers were recruited and posted in 2024, describing the statement as factually incorrect and a source of deep frustration among thousands of affected graduates.
In a Statement responding to the Minister’s remarks, the Coalition laid out a detailed timeline of the recruitment process affecting the 2022 and 2023 batches of trained teachers, arguing that the Minister’s account misrepresents what actually happened and risks creating a misleading public narrative around the recruitment exercise.
The Coalition was unequivocal in rejecting the Minister’s characterization of when the 2023 batch was recruited, stating plainly that no member of that cohort has been posted to date.
“We respectfully state that this claim is factually incorrect and has caused disappointment and frustration among thousands of unemployed graduate teachers from the 2023 batch.”
CUTT
To support its position, the Coalition presented a detailed account of the recruitment history for both the 2022 and 2023 batches, distinguishing clearly between what actually occurred for each group and what it says the Minister’s statement incorrectly conflated.
The 2022 Batch, A Different Recruitment Story
According to the Coalition, the 2022 batch of trained teachers began their mandatory national service in 2023 and completed it in 2024. Following the completion of their service, financial clearance was granted for the recruitment of approximately 13,000 qualified teachers from this batch who had successfully passed the National Teacher Licensure Examination, and this group was subsequently recruited into the service.
The Coalition suggested that this successful recruitment of the 2022 batch may be the source of confusion behind the Minister’s remarks, but stressed that this outcome applied specifically to the 2022 cohort and cannot accurately be attributed to the 2023 batch.
The Coalition explained that the 2023 batch of trained teachers followed a different and considerably more difficult path. This group graduated and began their national service in March 2024, completing it in February 2025, by which point the NDC government was already in office and, according to the Coalition, expected to facilitate their recruitment into the education service.
“Unfortunately, throughout 2025, not a single teacher from the 2023 batch was recruited. The Hon. Minister consistently explained that no financial clearance had been granted.”
CUTT
The Coalition said this extended period without recruitment stood in direct contrast to the Minister’s recent public claim that part of the 2023 batch had already been posted the previous year.
Rejected Proposal for Batch-Based Recruitment
When financial clearance was eventually approved for the recruitment of 7,000 teachers, the Coalition disclosed that it had proactively appealed to the Minister to structure the recruitment process in batches, a proposal it argued would have ensured greater fairness, accountability and transparency for candidates from different graduating years.
According to the Coalition, this proposal was not adopted. Instead, the recruitment portal was opened to all eligible applicants simultaneously, a decision the group says resulted in many qualified 2023 graduates being left unsuccessful, even as some 2024 graduates secured recruitment ahead of them.
Given this account of events, the Coalition described the Minister’s recent statement as deeply concerning, arguing that it does not reflect the actual sequence of events and risks embedding a misleading impression in the public record regarding the status of the 2023 batch.
The Coalition formally called on the Minister to publicly correct the statement, arguing that doing so is necessary both to prevent further misinformation and to restore confidence among the graduate teachers directly affected by the recruitment process.
Warning of Possible Demonstrations
The Coalition made clear that its response to the situation would escalate if the Minister does not act to correct the record. It warned that failure to address the disputed statement could compel the group to embark on lawful and peaceful demonstrations to express its dissatisfaction with what it considers poor handling of the teacher recruitment process, alongside calls for greater accountability within the leadership of the Ministry of Education.
Despite this warning, the Coalition was careful to frame its position as one rooted in continued dialogue rather than outright confrontation, reaffirming its commitment to engaging constructively with the Ministry going forward.
“We remain committed to constructive engagement and continue to advocate for a fair, transparent, and equitable recruitment process for all qualified trained teachers.”
CUTT
Dispute with Implications for Public Trust
The disagreement between the Coalition and the Minister adds to an already tense and closely watched conversation around teacher recruitment in Ghana, one that has repeatedly drawn public attention given the scale of unemployment among trained teachers awaiting placement.
With the Coalition now publicly disputing the accuracy of the Minister’s account, attention will likely turn to whether the Ministry of Education issues any formal clarification or correction in the coming days, and how such a response might shape the broader relationship between the Ministry and organised groups representing unemployed trained teachers.
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