Teachers in rural areas are to receive new incentive packages | File Photo
The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has announced a new incentive package aimed at encouraging teachers to accept postings to rural and underserved communities.
Speaking during a courtesy call by top awardees of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Dr Apaak said the government is introducing a 20 percent salary top-up for teachers who choose to work in deprived areas.
The move, he explained, is part of a broader effort to close the gap between urban and rural schools and give every Ghanaian child a fair chance at quality education.
Under the government’s ‘Teacher Dabre’ Programme, educators posted to hard-to-reach communities will not only receive the additional financial incentive but will also be supported with accommodation.
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The policy is intended to ease the burden many teachers face when asked to relocate to remote areas with limited infrastructure.
Dr Apaak noted that the initiative forms part of measures announced by John Dramani Mahama during the State of the Nation Address, aimed at strengthening basic education and improving learning outcomes nationwide.
According to him, the goal is simple: make rural postings more appealing so that children in underserved communities can benefit from dedicated, well-motivated teachers just like their peers in major cities.
“The President has a program that is going to reward teachers who take teaching positions in rural areas. These teachers would get 20% on top of their gross salary as a form of motivation,” he said.
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Education stakeholders have long raised concerns about the shortage of teachers in rural schools. The new incentive package is expected not only attract more educators to such areas but also retain them, ultimately improving teaching and learning conditions at the basic level.
NA/VPO
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Source:
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