The Registrar of the National Teaching Council, Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, has raised concerns about the high attrition rate in Ghana's education sector. He emphasized that this trend poses a significant threat to the future of the country's education and overall development.

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He raised these concerns while delivering a welcome address during the first day of a two-day symposium that preceded this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize at Takoradi in the Western Region.Dr. Addai-Poku disclosed a little over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers applied to the Department of Education in the UK for employment.

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The symposium served as a gathering point for education practitioners, academics, and policymakers to engage in discussions on pertinent issues in the education sector. It provided a significant platform for various agencies to interact with participants on crucial policy matters and offered schools an opportunity to showcase innovations emerging from their institutions.

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Furthermore, the symposium facilitated discussions related to the theme of the year's World Teachers Day celebration and allowed the shortlisted award winners to demonstrate what set them apart and led to their national recognition.

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The Registrar highlighted that despite the country producing a substantial number of qualified teachers annually, the persistently high attrition rate results in an ongoing shortage of teachers across the nation.According to him 10,000 applicants with Ghana Teacher Licenses have been certified to work in the UK without any further assessment (qualified teacher status test) by the UK government on June 13, 2023.As a result of this, Dr.

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Christian Addai-Poku, made an appeal to the government and all relevant stakeholders to implement appropriate measures to address the high attrition rate in the education sector. This call to action is aimed at averting the imminent danger posed by this ongoing trend.Meanwhile, Dr Addai-Poku commended all stakeholders in the education sector for their efforts towards attaining the best education for future leaders of the country.

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In his speech, he promised to partner with local and international agencies to shape the training, professionalism, and efforts of Ghanaian teachers in order to transform the nation's economy for the better.The Deputy Minister of Education responsible for the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) sector, Mrs.

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Gifty Twum Ampofo also emphasized that this year's theme for the Ghana Teacher Prize day, "The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage," precisely addresses the current crisis in education. She noted that a thorough examination of this theme would help uncover its multifaceted dimensions and advocate for a comprehensive solution.

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The Deputy Minister emphasized that teachers play a crucial role beyond being conveyors of information. They are the architects of the collective future, shaping young minds, fostering critical thinking, and imparting values and attitudes that endure for generations.Mrs.

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Twum Ampofo also called for collaboration among the National Teaching Council, the Ministry of Education, governments, educational institutions, civil society, and the private sector to address the teacher shortage. She acknowledged that reversing this shortage is a long-term endeavor that requires collective effort.Former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Education,Prof.

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Andy Ofori-Birikorang, emphasized that the role of teachers in the nation's development agenda cannot be underestimated. He highlighted that teachers are responsible for the health, harmony, and prosperity of society.

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