Caucus Warns: ‘If We Lose Our Teachers, We Lose Our Nation’ as Education Crisis Deepens

The Minority in Parliament has attributed the mass failure recorded in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to what it calls worsening conditions of service and rising dissatisfaction among teachers.

According to the Minority Caucus Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, the looming indefinite strike by teacher unions is directly linked to the poor learning outcomes seen in the 2026 BECE.

The Caucus argues that the grievances of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Union (PRETAG) stem from government’s failure to implement agreed conditions of service. These include delays in concluding a new Collective Agreement, failure to automatically place promoted teachers after passing aptitude tests, and the non-payment of the Deprived Area Allowance.

In a statement signed by Deputy Ranking Member Frank Asiedu Bekoe, the Minority stressed that the concerns raised by the unions relate to entitlements already captured in existing agreements, yet remain unfulfilled.

The Caucus warned that teacher dissatisfaction inevitably affects learning outcomes, insisting the 2026 BECE results should not be viewed solely as a failure on the part of students.

“A demotivated teacher cannot produce an excellent student,” the statement said, urging government to address the conditions affecting teachers who bear the responsibility of educating Ghana’s children.

The Minority is calling on government to immediately engage the unions and conclude negotiations on the new Collective Agreement. It is also demanding that the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) place all promoted teachers and pay outstanding arrears dating back to January 2026.

Additionally, the Caucus wants government to implement the 20% Deprived Area Allowance for teachers in hard‑to‑reach communities, as stipulated in the 2024 Collective Agreement for Teaching Staff within the Ghana Education Service.

With industrial action looming, the Minority cautioned that government must prioritise issues affecting the classroom, warning: “If we lose our teachers, we lose our nation.”

— CitiNewsRoom