The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has dismissed assertions of a teacher shortage in the country. He stated that there is an ample supply of teachers, with many awaiting their postings to educational institutions.

Dr. Adutwum conveyed this message during the National Teachers Day celebration held in Takoradi, Western Region, on Thursday, October 5.

"And we can forever put to rest this illusion that there is a shortage when there is no shortage. There are so many people who are waiting to be posted to go and teach and when we get clearance we will do that. We are one of the few countries in the world where you can get 100 teachers today if you want them.”

This contradicts comments by the Registrar of the National Teaching Council (NTC), Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, who has voiced concerns about the high attrition rate in Ghana's education sector, emphasizing the potential threat it poses to the nation's future development.

Dr. Christian Addai-Poku revealed that over 10,000 Ghanaian teachers, all possessing Ghana Teacher Licenses, have been granted certification to work in the United Kingdom (UK). Remarkably, these certifications were issued without requiring additional assessments, such as the qualified teacher status test, by the UK government.

He pointed out that the majority of teachers leaving the country are specialized in science and maths, underscoring the demand for Ghanaian educators in the global job market and raising questions about the impact on Ghana's education system due to the migration of qualified teachers.

These concerns were raised by Dr. Addai-Poku during his welcome address on the first day of a two-day symposium leading up to this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize in Takoradi, Western Region.

Dr. Addai-Poku disclosed that slightly over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers applied to the UK Department of Education for employment.

The symposium served as a gathering for education practitioners, academics, and policymakers to discuss crucial issues in the education sector. It provided a significant platform for various agencies to engage with participants on vital policy matters and allowed schools to showcase innovations emerging from their institutions.

Moreover, the symposium facilitated discussions related to the theme of this year's World Teachers Day celebration, allowing award winners to showcase what set them apart and led to their national recognition.

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 nationwide.

In response to this growing concern, Dr. Christian Addai-Poku appealed to the government and relevant stakeholders to implement appropriate measures addressing the high attrition rate in the education sector, aiming to avert the imminent danger posed by this trend.