The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced a package of new incentives aimed at improving conditions of service for teachers and addressing staffing gaps in deprived and hard-to-reach communities across the country.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, the Minister said the measures are part of government’s broader strategy to attract and retain qualified teachers in areas where recruitment and retention have remained a persistent challenge.
He explained that the revised eligibility period for key teacher-related benefits is intended to serve as an incentive for teachers who accept postings to underserved communities.
According to him, the policy forms part of a wider reform package designed to make rural postings more attractive and sustainable.
Hon. Iddrisu also revealed plans to introduce a 20 per cent rural allowance for teachers serving in difficult-to-access locations, describing it as a key motivation boost to encourage more professionals to accept postings outside urban centres.
He stressed that improving teacher welfare remains central to government’s education agenda, noting that better conditions of service are directly linked to improved learning outcomes and overall education quality.
The Minister further disclosed that government is developing the proposed “Teacher Dabre Initiative,” which will provide decent accommodation for teachers deployed to rural areas. The initiative, he said, forms part of commitments outlined in President John Dramani Mahama’s 2024 manifesto and is expected to significantly improve teacher retention in deprived communities.
In addition, he announced that all future contracts for the construction of school infrastructure will include residential accommodation for teachers, in a deliberate effort to address longstanding housing shortages in rural schools.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu reaffirmed government’s commitment to continuous professional development and capacity-building programmes for teachers nationwide, saying the reforms are aimed at building a more motivated, supported, and effective teaching workforce.
