The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says teachers and lecturers who are over 60 years old will still be allowed to work, even though the government has stopped giving contract extensions to public workers after retirement.

This comes after President John Mahama gave a new order to stop the practice of keeping public servants in their jobs after they retire. The goal is to create space for younger people to also get jobs in the public service.

Speaking to the media on Friday, April 11, the Education Minister explained that this new rule does not affect people working in schools and universities. So, teachers and lecturers above the age of 60 can still be given contracts to continue working.

“The essence of this briefing is to assure the men and women in academia that they are not affected by this decision,Faculty and faculty members should be assured that they are exempt from this directive,” he said.

He also explained that retired lecturers and other academic staff can still be hired again, but it will be done the right way, following all the proper steps and rules.

“For their purposes, they will go through their councils, their public service, and appropriate institutions where necessary, for those approvals to be granted,” he said.

The Minister also said it’s important to make things clear, especially for people working in universities and other higher schools. He said teachers in these places are very important to the country’s growth, so they need to be supported.

“This press briefing is just to assure academia, lecturers and students that the academic community and lecturers in the universities and other higher institutions of learning in the tertiary institutions are exempt from this directive," he said.