In a significant policy shift, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced that the Ghanaian government plans to phase out the teacher trainee allowance and replace it with an enhanced loan scheme. The new scheme, according to Iddrisu, will provide a more sustainable way to support teacher trainees, particularly in meeting their feeding needs while studying at colleges of education.
Speaking with the leadership of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education, Iddrisu explained that while the transition to the loan scheme is being worked out, the allowance would continue temporarily. “In the interim, they will still get the allowance, but we will transition to enhanced student loans to help them feed themselves,” Iddrisu stated.
The issue of teacher trainee allowances has long been a source of political debate. The previous government, under the National Democratic Congress (NDC), eliminated the allowance, arguing that it could be better utilized through the student loan scheme. However, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaigned on restoring the allowance in 2016 and followed through once in power.
As the debate continues, the government’s proposed loan scheme aims to offer a long-term solution to the financial needs of teacher trainees while ensuring more sustainability for the education system.
Source:TheDotNews