TEWU Calls on Government to Fill Vacant Non-Teaching Roles to Prevent Service Interruptions

TEWU Urges Government to Replace Retiring Non-Teaching Staff to Avoid Service Disruption.

The Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) has raised a red flag over the looming retirement of more than 600 of its members by the end of this year, warning that the lack of replacements will severely burden the remaining non-teaching staff and could disrupt education delivery across the country.

At a press conference held in Accra on May 19, the General Secretary of TEWU, King James Azortibah, urged the government to take swift and deliberate steps to recruit new personnel to fill the expected vacancies. He explained that these retirees include essential support staff such as cooks, security officers, accountants, drivers, cleaners, and auditors—individuals whose contributions are often overlooked but vital to the smooth operation of schools.

“Our data shows that close to 200 non-teaching staff retire every month, and by the end of 2025, the total figure is expected to cross 600. If these roles are not filled promptly, the few remaining workers will be stretched beyond their limits,” Mr. Azortibah stated. “Some schools already have only one security person on duty for more than a thousand students. How do we ensure safety and order under such conditions?”

He described the situation as a ticking time bomb and blamed the government’s failure to act in past years, despite repeated appeals by the union. TEWU has consistently raised the issue, but its calls for mass recruitment have yet to yield results.

Adding her voice to the concern, National Chairperson of TEWU, Salamatu Braimah Mahama, highlighted the silent but critical role played by education support staff. She stressed that teaching and learning cannot take place in a dirty or unsafe environment. “If the sanitary worker doesn’t clean the classrooms, lessons can’t take place. If the driver fails to transport students for practical training, then academic outcomes will suffer,” she said.

To strengthen its advocacy, TEWU is partnering with Education International, a global union federation that champions the rights of education workers. The organization has called on African governments to invest at least 20% of their national budgets in education, with part of the funding specifically allocated for improving the conditions of non-teaching staff.

Speaking on behalf of Education International, Anais Dayamba urged government authorities to ensure fair salaries, decent working conditions, and consistent recruitment practices. She emphasized that quality education depends not only on teachers but on the entire ecosystem of school staff.

TEWU’s leadership has hinted at possible action if their concerns are not addressed in time. They insist that the education system is at risk of stagnation unless non-teaching staff are recognized, supported, and adequately replaced when they exit the service.