The Principals of the 47 Colleges of Education across Ghana are calling on the government to increase the monthly teacher trainee allowance from GH₵400 to GH₵1,000, citing inadequacy in meeting students’ basic needs.
Allowance Concerns
The President of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Professor Atintono, has emphasised that the current allowance is insufficient, especially given that only GH₵8 per day is allocated for feeding each student.
“The current amount does not meet the basic needs of trainees, particularly their feeding. We are urging the government to urgently review it,” he noted during a recent meeting with the Education Minister.
Professor Atintono further suggested that the government reconsider the feeding system in colleges altogether, proposing that students be given a higher allowance to manage their own meals independently.
“It is time we rethink how we approach student feeding in colleges. Allow the students to take control of their meals with a more reasonable allowance,” he added.
Government’s Response
The Minister for Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, assured the principals that their concerns are under review and promised swift action.
“Government is committed to reviewing the allowance and responding to your concerns,” he noted.
Additionally, the principals urged the government to accelerate the finalisation of their conditions of service, arguing that their contributions to teacher training deserve fair recognition and improved working conditions.
The Education Minister acknowledged their request, stating, “We will work to ensure your conditions of service are addressed promptly.”
Infrastructure and Logistics Support
Beyond the allowance concerns, the principals appealed for official vehicles and increased infrastructure development support.
To address this, Minister Haruna Iddrisu pledged that the government would partner with the GETFund to complete at least 10 abandoned college projects.
No comment yet, add your voice below!