Government to Introduce 20% Allowance for Teachers in Deprived Areas – Deputy Education Minister

The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, says the government will introduce a 20 percent allowance for teachers who accept postings to deprived and hard-to-reach areas.

He spoke at a ceremony to honour 52 students who performed well in the BECE. Dr. Apaak said the allowance is meant to encourage teachers to accept postings to rural communities.

He explained that teachers will receive an extra 20 percent on their gross salary. He added that providing accommodation together with the allowance will make rural postings more attractive.

Dr. Apaak also expressed concern about schools still holding classes under trees. He said that as of 2024, nearly 5,000 schools in the country were still operating under trees.

To solve this problem, he said the government plans to build 200 junior high schools, 200 kindergartens, and 200 primary school blocks, among other projects.

The Deputy Minister also spoke about rising indiscipline and violence in schools. He warned students to behave well or face punishment.

He said students who misbehave could be arrested, prosecuted, and even jailed, which could affect their future.

His comments follow a court ruling on January 20, 2026, where four students were fined GH¢3,800 each for assaulting a mathematics teacher. Other cases of students attacking teachers and fellow students have also been reported.

Education stakeholders are calling on authorities to take stronger action to stop violence in schools.