The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that government is currently recruiting about 7,000 teachers and 3,000 lecturers as part of efforts to tackle Ghana’s growing teacher deficit.

According to the Minister, the country currently faces a shortfall of nearly 50,000 teachers across various levels of the education sector, a situation he says continues to place enormous pressure on schools nationwide.

Answering questions on the floor of Parliament on Friday, Mr. Iddrisu assured lawmakers that the government is taking steps to secure additional financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance to enable the recruitment of more teachers to bridge the gap.

He revealed that some districts are already struggling to sustain teaching and learning due to inadequate staffing levels.

Citing the case of the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, the Education Minister disclosed that about 176 teachers are currently being paid by parents to support teaching activities in several classrooms because of the shortage of government-paid staff.

He described the situation as unsustainable and stressed the need for urgent intervention to ensure equitable access to quality education across the country.

Mr. Iddrisu further announced that a newly recruited batch of teachers is expected to officially commence work on July 1, 2026, to strengthen staffing in schools and improve teaching delivery.

The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to addressing challenges confronting the education sector, including teacher shortages, infrastructure deficits, and equitable deployment of educational resources.

The disclosure comes amid increasing public concern over overcrowded classrooms and pressure on teachers in many public schools, particularly in underserved communities.