TEWU Calls for Urgent Replacement of 600+ Retiring Members by Year-End

Accra, Ghana – Top Knowledge TV | Education Desk

The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) has issued a strong appeal to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take immediate steps to replace over 600 of its members who are due for retirement by the end of 2025.

In a statement delivered during a press engagement in Accra, TEWU leadership warned that failure to recruit and train new staff in advance could severely disrupt the smooth operation of public schools and universities across the country.

According to the union, the affected positions include non-teaching roles such as administrative officers, cleaners, kitchen staff, security personnel, and technical support staff — all of whom are critical to the effective functioning of educational institutions.

“We are not just talking about numbers,” a TEWU spokesperson said. “We are talking about real people whose work keeps the engine of the education sector running. If we fail to replace them in time, schools will feel the pressure.”

The union has emphasized that the recruitment process must begin now to ensure smooth transitions, reduce the workload on remaining staff, and uphold the quality of education delivery.

TEWU also expressed concern over what it describes as "growing neglect" of non-teaching staff within policy planning and resource allocation, calling for equitable attention to their welfare and succession planning.

“If no concrete steps are taken by the third quarter of the year,” the union warned, “we will be forced to consider alternative action, including industrial protests, to protect the interests of our members and the educational system.”

The Ministry of Education has yet to respond publicly to TEWU’s call, but stakeholders in the education sector agree that urgent planning is needed to address the anticipated staffing shortfall before it becomes a crisis.