“We Were Lied To” – Teachers React to Failed 50,000 Recruitment Promise
Many trained teachers across Ghana are unhappy and disappointed as the year comes to an end with no teacher recruitment for 2025. This comes after strong promises by the NDC and President John Dramani Mahama that 50,000 teachers would be recruited to address unemployment and improve education. Today, that promise feels broken to thousands of qualified teachers who are still unemployed.
After completing their four-year training in Colleges of Education, many teachers also successfully completed their National Service Scheme (NSS). They served in schools across the country, gained classroom experience, and were hopeful that employment would follow soon after. Sadly, after NSS, many of them were sent home with no clear plan for recruitment.
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Throughout 2025, unemployed trained teachers waited patiently for official announcements. Months passed, but nothing happened. Now, government sources indicate that only 6,100 teachers may be employed in 2026, a figure that has caused serious concern and anger among teacher graduates.
What makes the situation even more painful is that about 1,700 trained teachers are already cleared and ready for employment, yet they remain at home. These teachers have completed college, passed the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE), finished NSS, and met all requirements, but they are still without appointment letters.
The Minister of Education went ahead to announce that the government would recruit 50,000 teachers in 2025, but it has all turned out to be lies. Many unemployed teachers say they feel lied to and used for political promises. “We were clearly told that 50,000 teachers would be recruited. That gave us hope. Now the year is ending, and nothing has happened,’ one teacher said.”
Another graduate shared his frustration: “After college, we did NSS in schools, teaching full-time like employed teachers. After service, we were asked to wait. We are still waiting.”
Some teachers say the delay has affected their mental health, finances, and family relationships. Parents and guardians keep asking when they will start work, while friends who studied other courses have already found jobs. “People think we are lazy,” a female teacher said. “They don’t understand that there are simply no postings.”
Education watchers are also worried. They argue that while trained teachers are sitting at home, many public schools—especially in rural areas—still lack enough teachers. Some classrooms are overcrowded, making teaching and learning difficult.
They also promised automatic posting for teacher trainees, but this has also turned out to be a lie. In addition, they promised that trained teachers would not do National Service, but this promise has also not been fulfilled.
Teacher unions and education groups are now calling on the government to be honest and transparent. If recruitment cannot happen, they want clear communication. If it will happen, they want specific dates and numbers.
As 2025 draws to a close, hope is slowly turning into disappointment and anger. For many trained teachers who completed college, passed GTLE, and finished NSS, the promise of 50,000 jobs now feels like a lie.
The big question remains: How long will trained teachers wait before they are finally posted to the classrooms they were prepared to serve?
