‘Waste no more time on the 20% deprived school allowance for rural teachers’ — Kofi Asare to GES

Kofi Asare, Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch

Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch is calling on the Ghana Education Service to immediately pay rural teachers the long-delayed 20% deprived school allowance.

He noted that it has been a long time since the policy’s introduction yet the GES hasn't been able to pay.

"The 20% Deprived School Allowance is a non-negotiable component for teachers in their CBA. It is unacceptable this has been hanging since 2006," said Kofi Asare in a Facebook post on Friday, March 22, voicing his frustration over the issue.

Mr. Asare stated that it is time for the GES to exhibit leadership by concluding negotiations and disbursing the funds owed teachers in Ghana's most under-resourced school environments.

"Enough of the manifesto promises and numerous Committees on this issue. GES, after spending years defining Deprived Schools, there is no more time to waste on this issue. Cash Out!” he added.

The deprived school allowance was written into the Collective Bargaining Agreement between teachers and the GES to compensate instructors in impoverished rural schools.

However, the terms have never been properly defined or paid out since 2006, to the dismay of teachers nationwide.