TTAG Says No to Scrapping Teacher and Nursing Allowances
The Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG) has made it clear that they will not accept any plans to cancel teacher and nursing trainee allowances. Instead, they believe the support should be increased to help future educators and nurses.
This reaction follows a suggestion made by Michael Donyina Mensah, the Executive Director of the Center for Public Opinion and Awareness (CenPOA), who called for the cancellation of the allowances.
In response, TTAG released a statement signed by its National Coordinator, expressing “deep concern” about the suggestion. According to them, “the cancellation of allowances is not an option. Rather, what we must be discussing is how to strengthen and increase these allowances to reflect the sacrifices and unique roles of teacher trainees in the development of our nation.”
TTAG stressed that teacher trainees in public Colleges of Education “are not ordinary students” but future nation-builders who will serve in classrooms and guide the next generation of Ghanaian children.
The statement further explained that the allowance is not just about money. It is a “symbol of recognition acknowledging the unique bond between teacher trainees and the state.” Since trainees are under strict government regulations, cannot do other jobs while in training, and are later posted to serve in deprived areas, TTAG believes this support is necessary.
They also warned that removing the allowance would make things worse by reducing access, equity, and motivation in teacher education. Instead, TTAG called for an increment, saying it would:
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Ease financial struggles for trainees, especially those from poor families.
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Encourage more young people to choose teaching as a career.
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Show that government values education as the foundation of national growth.
Reaffirming their stand, TTAG declared: “No to cancellation, yes to increment. Our future educators deserve better, and the allowance must be protected and enhanced, not scrapped.”
The association ended by assuring Ghanaians that teacher trainees “mean well” and are always open to dialogue with stakeholders to improve policies that support education and Ghana’s future.
